YouTube sensation lorry driver cleared of wrongdoing

A LORRY driver who was shown on YouTube driving along a motorway with a car trapped in front of his cab was cleared of any wrongdoing yesterday.

John Tomlinson was praised for being "cool and calm" in a crisis during a Traffic Commission hearing to decide if he should keep his HGV licence.

Half a million YouTube users have viewed the clip showing Mr Tomlinson's 40-tonne tanker pushing a Renault Clio at high speed along the A1 (M) in Yorkshire.

Yesterday's hearing, before North West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell, was told the accident happened when the Clio driver, Jane Williams, from York, attempted to undertake Mr Tomlinson's tanker in an "ill-advised" manoeuvre.

Mr Tomlinson remained unaware of the incident and continued driving until another motorist alerted him by flashing his hazard lights.