Overview
- A Reading Crown Court jury convicted Barry O’Sullivan of causing death by careless driving after more than six hours of deliberation.
- The crash happened on 7 March 2022 on the M4 westbound between junctions 11 and 12, where a Nissan Micra was stationary in the outside lane with hazard lights for about six minutes.
- Passenger Pulvinder Dhillon died when O’Sullivan’s van hit the Micra and the car burst into flames as other motorists had been taking avoiding action.
- Prosecutors said O’Sullivan missed cues that the car was stopped and drove at speed, with reconstruction evidence placing him at roughly 74–80 mph; police tests showed zero alcohol and no cocaine or cannabis.
- Trial records showed stopped‑vehicle detection alerts were not communicated for five days due to a March 2 IT fault with tickets misassigned and given a seven‑day priority, leaving gantries without obstruction warnings.