In 2021, a seemingly innocuous act led to a devastating outcome. Amber Potter, a 20-year-old driver, struck and killed 64-year-old David Sinar while checking a selfie she had just taken for her boyfriend. The tragic collision occurred on the A11 road in Norfolk, England. Potter’s actions serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of distracted driving.
A ‘Grossly Avoidable Distraction’
As David Sinar rode home on his new Lambretta scooter, Amber Potter was driving from Glastonbury to Norfolk. The 20-year-old was actively using her phone, taking selfies and sending text messages. Investigators found that she had sent dozens of messages in the moments leading up to the fatal crash. Potter’s last interaction with her phone occurred 85 seconds before she called for help. She was traveling at 70 miles per hour, while Sinar was driving more slowly at around 40 miles per hour. The lack of skid marks at the scene suggests that Potter did not even attempt to slow down before the collision.
Potter’s Trial and Sentencing
Amber Potter initially denied using her phone at the time of the fatal collision, claiming that Sinar’s scooter had “come out of nowhere.” However, she later changed her story. At her trial in 2024, the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. She received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a 45-month driving ban. Her actions left Sinar’s family devastated, emphasizing that no sentence can truly measure the loss they experienced.
