Lorry driver accused of making call moments before M23 crash that killed 80-year-old millionaire

A lorry driver was using his mobile phone moments before crashing into a car on the M23, a court has been told.

Michael Black's truck ploughed into the back of the vintage car, killing 80-year-old driver Ronald Carey and seriously injuring his wife. 

The couple's 118-year-old car had deviated onto the motorway from the official route of the London to Brighton vintage car run. 

A jury at Guildford Crown Court was played CCTV from the cab of the lorry - showing the horrific moment the truck being driven by Mr Black, 52, struck the car.

The 1903 Knox 'Old Porcupine' car was being driven by Mr Carey, a Canadian oil millionaire, and his wife was in the passenger seat. 

The jury watched in silence as they saw the lorry move into the third lane of the motorway on the morning of November 3, 2019.

They were then shown the vintage car travelling slowly in the same lane.

The lorry then hits the small open-top car, with Mr Black appearing to notice it seconds before the crash.

The prosecution say Mr Black was trying to make a mobile call to a friend in the seconds leading up to the crash.

It's alleged that soon after the crash Mr Black said: "I wasn't looking. I looked down and they were there."

The prosecution say he told police his phone "was ringing and ringing and ringing and did not connect - and I impacted with the vehicle".

Mr Carey's wife watched the proceedings on a remote link from Arizona, in the United States.

Mr Black, from Crawley, denies one count of causing death by dangerous driving and another of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.