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Barry O’Sullivan, a van driver, has been convicted of causing death by careless driving after a collision on the M4 motorway in Berkshire. On 7 March 2022, O’Sullivan struck a stationary Nissan Micra parked in the outside lane of a smart motorway, resulting in the car bursting into flames with Pulvinder Dhillon inside. The incident occurred between junctions 11 and 12 on the westbound carriageway.
O’Sullivan, who is 45 years old and from Wixams, Bedfordshire, maintained that he had no warning of the broken-down vehicle ahead. It was revealed in court that the detection radar system designed to alert drivers to stopped vehicles had been out of operation for five days prior to the crash, with signs and alerts reportedly defective. Despite these claims, prosecutors argued that any competent driver should have been able to avoid the Nissan Micra, which was owned by Dhillon’s daughter, Rajpal Dene.
Footage from just before the impact showed multiple drivers passing the stationary car safely, but O’Sullivan’s van slammed into the rear of the vehicle at approximately 77 mph around 08:30 GMT. Prosecutor Ian Hope described the collision, saying, “O’Sullivan essentially ploughed straight into the back of the stationary Nissan, with there being no apparent avoiding action to the naked eye.” O’Sullivan himself sustained serious injuries, requiring four months of hospitalization. His driving license was clean, and tests showed no alcohol or drugs in his system.
Smart motorways, which convert hard shoulders into traffic lanes and rely on technology to control traffic flow, have been the subject of safety concerns. The M4 stretch where the accident happened was part of a £814 million project completed in December 2022, extending 32 miles between Hayes and Theale in Berkshire. Following ongoing safety and cost issues, the Conservative government announced in April 2023 that no further smart motorway projects would proceed. A National Highways spokesperson acknowledged the tragedy, stating, “Any death on our roads is one too many and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Pulvinder Dhillon following this tragic incident. While nothing can ever compensate for their loss, the person responsible has been found guilty of driving carelessly.” O’Sullivan is scheduled to be sentenced on 24 April
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