M4 crash near Reading: man sentenced for careless driving
Barry O'Sullivan, aged 45, of Green Lane, Bedford, was found guilty following a trial at Reading Crown Court. Returning to the same court today (April 24) O'Sullivan was sentenced to six months, suspended for 12 months. The suspended sentence means O'Sullivan will not face jail time unless he breaches the conditions of the sentence or commits another offence.
He will also be disqualified from driving for 12 months. At around 8.40am on the morning of March 7, 2022, Pulvinder Dhillon, who was 68, was a passenger in a black Nissan vehicle, which had broken down in lane four of the M4, just before junction 12 in the smart motorway section. The stopped vehicle detection system on that stretch of the motorway was not functioning correctly at the time of the collision.
CCTV footage showed other vehicles avoiding the Nissan however a white van, being driven by O'Sullivan, collided with the car at a speed of between 74 and 82mph, causing the Nissan to catch fire. Tragically, Pulvinder died at the scene, while two other people sustained serious injuries. 
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mark Dunne, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "My thoughts and the thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police remain with Pulvinder's family and friends today. "Although the detection system on the smart motorway was not functioning at the time, other drivers saw the stranded Nissan vehicle and took the necessary evasive action, and we received a number of 999 calls alerting us to the break down in a live lane. "Tragically, prior to our arrival on scene, O'Sullivan collided with the Nissan, causing a catastrophic injury to Pulvinder.
"Our case was always that the manner of O'Sullivan's driving was careless, regardless of the status of the smart motorway systems not alerting drivers to the stranded car at the time.
"Pulvinder was a much loved person, and I hope that her family can begin to move forward with their lives in some way now that sentencing has concluded."