The lorry driver who answered the phone faces years in prison after admitting to killing three motorists on the A303

A truck driver today admitted to killing three motorists after his truck drove into a bride-to-be and two others while on the phone.

Michal Kopaniarz is facing years in jail after pleading guilty to causing the three fatalities by dangerous driving in a horror crash on a major dual carriageway.

The 39-year-old also admitted to destroying the phone he was using when he crashed into Alex Britton on the A303 near Andover, Hampshire.

The 28-year-old was on her way to work in an Opel Astra when she broke down.

Good Samaritan Tina Ince, 58, was driving a Mercedes van when she stopped to help Miss Britton.

Both women were killed along with DAF salvage truck driver Tom Watson, 30, when Kopaniarz’s truck crashed into their vehicles at around 8:40am on August 25, 2021.

A truck driver today admitted to killing three motorists after his truck drove into a bride-to-be and two other motorists while he was on the phone. Michal Kopaniarz faces jail time after pleading guilty to causing the three fatalities by dangerous driving in a horror crash on a major dual carriageway

The 39-year-old also admitted to destroying the phone he was using when he crashed into Alex Britton (above) on the A303 near Andover, Hampshire

The road was closed for 21 hours after the accident.

Miss Britton, of Portsmouth, Hampshire, was a mother to daughters Payton, three, and Ava, then 18 months, and was to marry childhood sweetheart Aaron Law.

Mr Law said Miss Britton was an “amazing woman” and telling his daughters of their mother’s death was the hardest thing he’d done.

Mrs Ince, from Southampton, Hampshire, was praised by her family after trying to help Miss Britton.

They said: “Tina was a kind and generous person with a heart of gold.

“She lived as she died: helping people. Words cannot describe how much she is missed by those who knew her.

Good Samaritan Tina Ince (pictured), 58, was driving a Mercedes van when she stopped to help Miss Britton

“She was strong, hardworking and truly unique.”

Mr Watson’s family, from Southampton, said he “loved his job” and was described as “a kind, generous man who loved helping people and doing anything for his family”.

Kopaniarz, from Donnington, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Winchester Crown Court today.

He also pleaded guilty to perverting legal process by damaging and discarding a Samsung cellphone that contained evidence he was using at the time of the collision.

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court: “The defendant used his mobile phone while driving dangerously.

“It was the destruction of that phone that perverted the cause of justice.

“He knew the destruction of his phone was for a purpose.

‘[He knows he] faces a substantial prison sentence.’

Both women were killed along with DAF salvage truck driver Tom Watson (above), 30, when Kopaniarz’s truck crashed into their vehicles at around 8:40am on August 25, 2021

Samantha Ball, defending herself, said: “Mr Kopaniarz takes full responsibility for what happened that day.”

After the crash, Mr Law said his daughter will always remember her mother as she is surrounded by photos of her: “You have pictures of her everywhere. We’re talking about her.

“If Payton does something that reminds us of her, we make sure we tell her.

“We firmly believe that they will never forget her. Unfortunately for Ava, she won’t remember.

“We just have to do everything we can to let her know that her mother was there for her every second of every day.

‘Payton knows, she understood far better than any of us thought.

“When I told her it was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. She still tells people about it because she’s a young girl.”

Miss Britton was Head of Ceremonies at Marston Events in Andover, Hampshire.

She was pronounced dead at the scene along with Ms Ince and Mr Watson.

Mr Law and his partner, both from Portsmouth, Hants, were due to marry in 2019 but the ceremony was pushed back to February 2022 due to the pandemic.

Mr Law, who met Miss Britton when she was a teenager, said: “We wanted this special day for her because she never wanted anything else – I just wanted to give her this day.

“We kept putting that day off, we didn’t want to settle for 12 people or whatever. Unfortunately we couldn’t get married.

“She cared to the point where she felt pain for people she didn’t know. On the other hand, she would never worry about herself, she was more worried about her family and that everyone else was okay.

“She wasn’t someone who bought new things, fell in love with herself, put on makeup or anything like that. She only cared about her family and the needs of her family.

“She was really beautiful inside and out. She was great with[den Kindern]- my three and a half year old has progressed so much, it’s all thanks to Alex.[thechildren)-mythree-and-a-half-year-old’ssoadvancedthat’sallthankstoAlex[thechildren)-mythree-and-a-half-year-old’ssoadvancedthat’sallthankstoAlex

“She changed my life. When I first met Alex I was on a downward path and if it wasn’t for her I would be in jail or not here – she completely changed my life.

Miss Britton completed a Bachelors degree in Dance with a Masters in Acting and Performance from the University of Portsmouth.

The “passionate dancer” should complete a teacher training course.

After her death, Miss Britton’s company set up a donation page in her memory.