A LORRY driver who was cleared of causing the death of an 18-year-old woman in a motorway smash has taken to Facebook to thank those who offered him support throughout his ordeal.

Kevin Ollerhead, 45, from Lincoln Crescent, Haresfinch was found not guilty at Leeds Crown Court of causing the death of Bethany Jones by dangerous driving.

A jury of eight women and four men took just two hours to find Mr Ollerhead not guilty.

Miss Jones was among a group of 20 women travelling with a hen party in Liverpool last April when their coach was hit on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

She died from multiple injuries. Everyone on the coach, who were from the Pontefract area, suffered some form of injury.

The coach driver, James Johnson, 64, from Whytecote End, Wyke in Bradford pleaded guilty to causing Miss Jones death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing. He is due to be sentenced on November 14.

Mr Ollerhead was also cleared of a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.

Writing on his Facebook page he said: “Thanks to everyone for your support. It’s been a tough 18 months and finally the truth came out. I can now try to move forward with my life and try and find my smile again.”

Friends and family took to his timeline to post their messages of support.

One message read: “I think I speak for one and all when I say I never for one minute thought that you were guilty. I am thrilled to bits that the court found out what we already knew.”

Another wrote: “You were strong and dignified through the whole terrible thing."

The court had heard how the minibus had set off from South Elmsall but suffered a mechanical problem and was travelling at about 5mph.

Mr Ollerhead, 45, who formerly served with the First Royal Tank Regiment, was driving a Farm Foods refrigerated truck back to Warrington.

The married father had the cruise control set to 52mph.

He said that because of the impact he thought the minibus was stationary on the motorway.

In evidence, he told the court: "I remember everything froze, everything just stopped. I think I steered, I think I braked.

“When I saw the minibus and I knew I was going to hit it I thought I was going to die and everything just stopped."