Smart motorway system was not working during fatal crash on M4 at Reading, court hears
A van driver denies causing death by careless driving.
The smart motorway system was not functioning on the day a van driver collided with a stationary car on the M4, resulting in the death of its passenger, Reading Crown Court has heard.
Barry O'Sullivan, 45, was driving a Ford Transit Connect van along the motorway's westbound stretch between junctions 11 and 12 at Reading during rush hour on 7th March 2022. He struck a broken-down Nissan Micra that had stopped in the fast lane after its engine failed, according to prosecutor Ian Hope.
The vehicle's passenger, Pulvinder Dhillon, suffered fatal injuries when the impact caused the car to ignite. Dhillon’s daughter, Rajpal Dene, who had been driving, managed to escape thanks to other motorists pulling her to safety.
Prosecutor Ian Hope explained to jurors that the smart motorway system was not operational at the time of the collision. This meant the obstruction and the closure of the fast lane had not been automatically communicated to oncoming traffic.
The Nissan had reportedly been at a standstill for approximately six minutes, Mr Hope said, during which several drivers avoided the car by braking and swerving.
Mrs Dene had switched on the hazard lights to alert other motorists, but multiple people contacted police to report the stationary vehicle before the crash.
Barry O'Sullivan was travelling between 74 and 80mph in the van just five seconds before colliding with the Nissan, jurors heard.
The prosecutor described O'Sullivan as showing "no apparent avoiding action" before the collision, stating "he essentially ploughed straight into the back of the stationary Nissan."
The crash propelled both vehicles forward at high speed and resulted in "calamitous" damage.
Following the crash, O'Sullivan was seriously injured but tested negative for alcohol and drugs when police conducted roadside checks.
In interviews with police, O’Sullivan claimed he saw the car ahead and initially assumed it was moving, before realising it was stationary too late to avoid it.
O'Sullivan stated that he had observed light traffic and good weather conditions on the day of the crash and had passed several gantries which displayed no warnings about obstructions.
Prosecutor Ian Hope reiterated that the smart motorway system was not operating at the time, despite being designed to warn motorists of hazards ahead.
Barry O’Sullivan has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving.
The trial continues.