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Driver Found Guilty in Fatal M4 Collision; Sentencing Set

2/18/2026

48 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Barry O'Sullivan, 45, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving after colliding with a Nissan Micra on the M4 smart motorway, March 7, 2022, killing Pulvinder Dhillon.
Prosecutors said he drove at 74–80 mph and did not notice cues Micra was stopped.
The defense blamed a malfunction in the motorway alert system, which had not issued warnings for five days.
O'Sullivan will be sentenced on April 24, 2026.

History

Historical Context

Since their introduction in 2014, smart motorways in the UK have been linked to over 38 fatalities, raising significant safety concerns. In 2022, Barry O'Sullivan was convicted of causing death by careless driving on the M4 smart motorway, prompting scrutiny of traffic management systems. Following ongoing criticism, the UK government announced in April 2023 that no new smart motorways would be built, citing public confidence issues.

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Story summary

Barry O'Sullivan, 45, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving after colliding with a Nissan Micra on the M4 smart motorway, March 7, 2022, killing Pulvinder Dhillon.
Prosecutors said he drove at 74–80 mph and did not notice cues Micra was stopped.
The defense blamed a malfunction in the motorway alert system, which had not issued warnings for five days.
O'Sullivan will be sentenced on April 24, 2026.

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