Truck driver convicted in UK crash that killed philanthropist Ron Carey

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A truck driver who slammed into the back of Ron Carey’s vintage car during the London-Brighton rally two years ago, killing the Calgary philanthropist, has been found guilty of causing his death, the British media.
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The Daily Mail reported that Michael Black was “sobbing uncontrollably” as the verdicts were read in court.
Carey was killed when the truck driven by Black crashed into his 1903 Knox on the M23 motorway about 31 miles south of London. Carey’s wife Billi, who was sitting next to him, was seriously injured in the crash.
The court heard that Black, 52, tried to call a friend by bugging his cell phone moments before the accident.
He was cleared of the original reckless driving causing death charge and convicted of reckless driving causing death, media reported. Black was also cleared of the charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Carey, 80, had been passionate about vintage cars since the 1980s.
The founder of oilfield supply company J&L Supply donated his massive collection of vintage cars, trucks and gas pumps to Heritage Park, which led to the construction of the Gasoline Alley exhibit. He has also contributed financially to local organizations including the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the STARS Air Ambulance.
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The court heard that Carey took a wrong turn during the rally and inadvertently ended up on the busy freeway in front of Black. His 110-year-old car was traveling at around 32 km / h at the time of the accident. The truck was traveling at over 80 km / h.
“If Black had kept good surveillance, this accident would not have happened,” the prosecutor told the jurors last week.
A collision investigator told the jury that Carey’s car would have been in Black’s field of vision for up to 14 seconds based on video footage and speed calculations.
“I hope today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message to other drivers that a loss of concentration, even for a few seconds, can have devastating consequences,” said Const. Kelly Newton told the Daily Mail after Wednesday’s verdict.
Black is set to be sentenced on December 8.