M23 crash: Lorry driver found guilty of causing 80-year-old millionaire's death by careless driving

A lorry driver has been found guilty of careless driving causing an 80-year-old millionaire vintage car driver's death in a crash on the M23.

Michael Black's truck ploughed into a vintage car taking part in the London to Brighton rally carrying Canadian Ronald Carey and his wife.

The couple's 118-year-old car had deviated onto the motorway from the official route of the vintage car run. Black was trying to make a phone call when his lorry struck the rear of the Knox porcupine car on the M23 in November 2019.

Mr Carey, who was driving the 110-year-old vehicle, was killed instantly.

His wife, who had been in the passenger seat, was seriously injured but survived the crash.

Black was found guilty of careless driving causing death on Wednesday following a trial at Guildford Crown Court

A jury found the lorry driver not guilty of two additional charges of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious injury.

Black will be sentenced next month.

Temporary Detective Constable Kelly Newton, from Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, which investigated the collision, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Carey’s family and I hope that the guilty verdict today will help them begin to come to terms with their loss and to start to move on with their lives.

“Black’s defence was that he simply did not see the car in front of him until it was too late as a result of “looming” and the sun being a distraction. Today’s verdict has reinforced that this isn’t in fact accurate and he was distracted by the use of his mobile phone.

“I hope that the guilty verdict delivered today sends a clear message to other drivers – that losing concentration, even for a few seconds, can have devastating consequences.”