Effective Control Transport Inc. (fka EFFC)

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Man guilty of sleep crash death

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7259669.stm

A lorry driver who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a car has been jailed after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Hayden Bailey's 18-tonne lorry hit a crash barrier on the A48 Eastern Avenue in Cardiff then crossed the central reservation to the other carriageway.

It hit a car driven by Leonard Nicholls, 69, from Cardiff, who died in the collision last April.

Bailey, 54, of Birchgrove Close, Newport, was jailed for 10 months.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Bailey was returning from delivering bread in Chippenham when the incident occurred.

Mr Nicholls was driving his wife Evelyn, 68, to a garden centre. He suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. Mrs Nicholls also suffered serious injuries.

Defending, Ian Dixie said Bailey was sincerely sorry for the pain caused to Mr Nicholl's family.

"The terrible irony is that his own father died from a road accident which has made him a very careful driver," he told the court.

Records showed Dailey had driven 151 miles that morning between 0325 GMT and 1000 GMT and had taken the appropriate rest breaks.

The court heard medical tests since the incident showed Bailey suffers from severe obstructive sleep apnoea, a breathing condition which interferes with deep sleep and causes excessive tiredness during the day.

Bailey was unaware of his condition, and also had a viral infection that may have contributed to him feeling sleepy, Mr Dixie said.

Sentencing, Judge Philip Richards said: "You caused the death of another human being, a man who was a thoroughly decent man. His life was cut short and you caused injuries to his widow.

"You are a thoroughly decent man, I am quite sure of that. The last thing you wanted to do was be responsible for any injury to any other person.

"You will have to go through the rest of your life knowing you have caused this accident and that in itself is a significant punishment."

Speaking after the case, the couple's daughter Chantelle Nicholls, 42, said: "People should always take a 15-minute break if they are driving and start to feel tired.

"We are grateful that Hayden Bailey has now taken responsibility for his actions.

"But people with sleep apnoea can be aware they are falling asleep. Whatever the cause, stop and have a break."