Lorry driver who was 'using eye drops' before fatal smash is jailed

[dutchman]

Dad-of-11 Nigel Blount died five weeks after the HGV pile-up at Tollbar



A lorry driver who ploughed into the back of a broken down wagon, causing the death of a dad-of-11, will spend Christmas behind bars.

Rajesh Patel smashed into the truck on the A46 near Tollbar Island , causing Nigel Blount’s wagon to then crash into him.

The 62-year-old died five weeks after the smash on March 5 last year from an infection brought on by his injuries.

Patel, of Hartopp, Sutton Coldfield, denied causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year.

The trial heard claims he had been putting eye drops in just moments before the fatal crash - but Patel denied that in evidence.

The 54-year-old was handed a one-year prison sentence at Warwick Crown Court , half of which he’ll serve in jail with the remainder on licence.

Patel’s barrister had pleaded for the judge to suspended the sentence and even suggested Mr Blount was partly to blame for the crash himself.

Judge Eyre batted down that statement saying that Mr Blount had been driving at an expected distance behind Patel’s lorry which would have allowed him to react to normal traffic changes.

Sentencing Patel, Judge Stephen Eyre said: “On March 5, 2015, you were driving a HGV on the busy A46. You were driving at speed, not grossly excessive, but at speed.

“It was important for you to take proper care in these circumstances because if you did not there would be grave consequences.

“You had to respond to a dangerous situation that you had not created that day.

“Other drivers were able to avoid the broken down lorry. It was clear from CCTV and expert evidence that you failed to even begin to take evasive action until the very last moment.

“It was that failure that led to Mr Blount’s death.”

Paying tribute to Mr Blount, the judge said: “Nigel Blount was a good and decent man. He showed love and care to others by fostering over a period of 20 years and adopted five of those children who had been in his care.

“He leaves a real legacy of achievement and will be remembered by many with love and gratitude.”