National Highways put 'measures in place' after fatal M4 crash, court told
The smart motorway system failed to warn drivers of a broken-down vehicle on the day of a fatal collision
National Highways put "measures in place" after a smart motorway system failed to warn drivers of a broken-down vehicle on the day of a fatal collision, a court has heard.
The system had not been functioning for five days when Barry O'Sullivan, 45, crashed his grey Ford Transit Connect into the back of a Nissan Micra that had come to a halt in the outside lane of the motorway on March 7 2022.
The collision, which took place on the M4 westbound between junctions 11 and 12 in Berkshire, caused both vehicles to propel forward, with the Nissan bursting into flames.
Pulvinder Dhillon, who was a passenger in the Nissan which was being driven by her daughter, suffered fatal injuries.
At Reading Crown Court today, jurors heard evidence from David Edmond, a traffic management officer with Thames Valley Police.
He told the court that his role is to look at the "circumstances" of the collision.
In his evidence, Mr Edmond told the court that National Highways has been "quite clear that the system wasn't working as it should be" at the time of the collision.
He was asked about the defect and whether anyone had looked into fact it went unnoticed for several days by Ian Bridge, who is representing O'Sullivan.
In response, Mr Edmond said: "I can tell you that National Highways have put measures in place to ensure that that doesn't happen again".
He told the court: "I can tell you that I received assurances that the fault or problem is resolved and sufficient balances and checks were put in place to ensure that that didn't happen again."
Mr Edmond said this is based on information given to him by National Highways.
Jurors were previously told that on the day of the collision, the smart motorway was not functioning, and "wasn't showing messages about any obstructions in the road ahead".
O'Sullivan told police in an interview after the crash that there was "no indication of anything untoward" on any of the gantries on that stretch of the smart motorway.
He said "there was definitely no warnings" of the stranded vehicle.
Jurors have previously heard that O'Sullivan was allegedly driving "at speed" in the outside lane before the crash.
O'Sullivan, of Wixams, near Bedford, has pleaded not guilty to one count of causing death by careless driving.
The trial continues.