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Sneeze crash lorry driver jailed | Sneeze crash lorry driver jailed |
(40 minutes later) | |
A gas tanker driver who claimed he sneezed moments before a fatal crash has been jailed for four years at the High Court in Edinburgh. | |
Shane Fraser had earlier been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury's unanimous verdict. | Shane Fraser had earlier been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury's unanimous verdict. |
The 44-year-old, from Inverness, had denied the charge. | The 44-year-old, from Inverness, had denied the charge. |
Nurse Melainey Rose, 36, also of Inverness, died when her car was in a collision with Fraser's lorry on the A9 in December 2007. | Nurse Melainey Rose, 36, also of Inverness, died when her car was in a collision with Fraser's lorry on the A9 in December 2007. |
Judge Lord Menzies said the crash not only claimed Ms Rose's life, but had left her mother and two other people injured. | Judge Lord Menzies said the crash not only claimed Ms Rose's life, but had left her mother and two other people injured. |
He said: "All of this, and the death of Melainey Rose, was caused by your dangerous driving." | He said: "All of this, and the death of Melainey Rose, was caused by your dangerous driving." |
Hospital appointment | Hospital appointment |
Defence advocate Shahid Latif said Fraser was remorseful for his actions. | Defence advocate Shahid Latif said Fraser was remorseful for his actions. |
He said: "He asks me to apologise to the family of those who have been impacted by what occurred that day either directly or indirectly." | He said: "He asks me to apologise to the family of those who have been impacted by what occurred that day either directly or indirectly." |
Fraser, who had no previous convictions, was also banned from driving for five years. | Fraser, who had no previous convictions, was also banned from driving for five years. |
Ms Rose had been taking her 62-year-old mother home from a hospital appointment when she died in the crash near the Cromarty Bridge in the Highlands. | Ms Rose had been taking her 62-year-old mother home from a hospital appointment when she died in the crash near the Cromarty Bridge in the Highlands. |
During his trial at the High Court in Inverness, Mr Fraser said he had sneezed hard and jerked up out his seat before falling back into it. | During his trial at the High Court in Inverness, Mr Fraser said he had sneezed hard and jerked up out his seat before falling back into it. |
He said he then heard a loud crash, adding: "I actually thought the tanker had been blown up." | He said he then heard a loud crash, adding: "I actually thought the tanker had been blown up." |
Mr Fraser said he grabbed the steering wheel and the next thing he knew the accident had happened. | Mr Fraser said he grabbed the steering wheel and the next thing he knew the accident had happened. |
When questioned as to how it had happened he told the jury: "The one thing I put it down to was the jerk and the sneeze." | When questioned as to how it had happened he told the jury: "The one thing I put it down to was the jerk and the sneeze." |
Mr Fraser denied falling asleep at the wheel, using a mobile phone, drinking and driving or being in any way distracted at the time of the accident. | Mr Fraser denied falling asleep at the wheel, using a mobile phone, drinking and driving or being in any way distracted at the time of the accident. |
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