A lorry driver caused a five car pile-up after attempting to peer through a misted-up windscreen.

Christopher Tribe, 57, was looking through a tiny gap in the glass when he crashed into a minivan in Sandycroft, Flintshire. 

The shocking collision was captured on his own dash-cam as his lorry load of glue careered off the road.

Footage shows Mr Tribe’s body violently shaking as he swears multiple times, visibly horrified.

He is then thrown around the vehicle as the windscreen shatters and his hat comes flying off. 

The minivan was knocked nose-down into a ditch while other cars were also damaged in the crash.

Mold Magistrates Court heard Tribe had been driving a lorry full of glue – and some of the adhesive spilled into the road following the collision.

Prosecutor James Ashton said Tribe had ‘poor visibility due to his misted up windscreen’. The sun was low which also made driving conditions difficult.

Christopher Tribe, 57, was looking out through the tiny gap when he ploughed straight into a mini-van in Sandycroft, Flintshire

The impact was captured on his own dash-cam as his lorry ploughed into queuing traffic

Tribe had previously used his phone behind the wheel on his journey but was not on it at the time of the crash, the court heard. 

Patrick Geddes, defending, said: ‘He’s clearly remorseful and didn’t minimise his behaviour.

‘He’s fully aware this could have resulted in serious injury – or worse.

‘His driving was dangerous and caused a collision.

‘A contributory factor was that the sun was very low; it added to the poor visibility. It doesn’t absolve Mr Tribe, but it is a factor.

‘There is mention of his phone. He did do that; it’s not anything what resulted in the collision.

‘He checked it whilst travelling, and he shouldn’t have been doing that.’

An aerial view of the aftermath of the crash, which left a mini-van lying in a ditch and multiple vehicles damaged

Prosecutor James Ashton said Tribe had ‘poor visibility due to his misted up windscreen’

Magistrates chair Lucy Bureau, told Tribe: ‘Mr Tribe, it was a fairly horrific incident – I’m sure you agree.’

Tribe pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously but avoided prison and was instead handed a 36 week sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and has been ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge, as well as £85 costs.