Overview
- CCTV shown to jurors captured the Nissan Micra stranded for about six minutes with hazards as roughly 35 vehicles slowed or swerved before the impact.
- Prosecutors said the Ford Transit van was traveling at about 77mph, likely on cruise control, with avoidance steering starting less than half a second before impact and no seat belt worn.
- The defense argued the smart‑motorway stranded‑vehicle system had been down for five days and that National Highways could not display red X closures on 14 gantries that morning.
- Pulvinder Dhillon, 68, died after the collision and resulting fire, while driver Rajpal Dene was pulled from the car by other motorists.
- Barry O’Sullivan, 45, denies causing death by careless driving, tested negative for drink and drugs, and is on trial at Reading Crown Court.