'Nothing untoward' before fatal M4 crash, jury told

A van driver who crashed into a broken-down car in a smart motorway's fast lane said there was nothing to indicate there was anything wrong before the fatal accident.

Barry O'Sullivan, 45, was driving a Ford Transit Connect van on the M4 westbound between junctions 11 and 12 in Berkshire before it hit the stationary Nissan Micra on 7 March 2022.

Pulvinder Dhillon, 68, from London, who was a passenger in the car, died.

O'Sullivan, of Wixams, Bedfordshire, denies a charge of causing death by careless driving at Reading Crown Court.

Jurors were read a transcript from a police interview at Milton Keynes police station in August 2022.

O'Sullivan said he felt "fresh" and "intently alert" on the morning of the crash and that he had driven on that same stretch of the M4 "many times".

He added: "There was no indication of anything untoward on the matrix boards or the gantries or anything like that."

O'Sullivan said he saw a vehicle in front of him which he "perceived to be moving with the flow of traffic", adding there were no hazard lights on or doors open.

"When I realised the vehicle was stationary, I immediately hit the brakes, but unfortunately I couldn't avoid the collision and unfortunately we collided," he said.

The driver said he learned afterwards that a safety feature on the smart motorway system had been defective in the days leading up to the collision.

He said: "Had I been notified [of problems] I would have acted, and I definitely wasn't notified."

O'Sullivan added: "I'm certain had this system been working I wouldn't be here now and I wouldn't have collided with that vehicle."

O'Sullivan said he tried to leave the vehicle after the crash, which happened at about 08:45 BST, but realised he could not feel his legs.

Initially taken to hospital in Reading, he was later transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. He spent about three months in hospital.

Another motorist who was driving on the M4 on the morning of the collision told the jury he had several interactions with National Highways about the smart motorway's management.

Martin Jones said he had "about a dozen or so interactions" with the agency about problems he had encountered and met with it about his concerns.

Jurors were previously told the smart motorway was not functioning and "wasn't showing messages about any obstructions in the road ahead".

The trial continues.