A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off at the wheel and killed a grandfather.

Stefan-Alexandru Bloj was on his first ever night shift for the postal service and had only three hours sleep in the 24 hours before he dropped off for five seconds on the M271.

The 34-year-old's 44-tonne Mercedes lorry ploughed into the back of David Sullivan's Citroen, causing the 64 year old - affectionately nicknamed 'Grandad Gorgeous' - to suffer horrific fatal injuries.

Today, Romanian driver Bloj was jailed as Mr Sullivan's devastated widow Wendy tearfully told a court she constantly asks herself 'Did he see the lorry coming? Did he know he was going to die?'

Mrs Sullivan, 68, who ran an award-winning bakery with her husband, also told of her grief at losing her partner of almost 50 years

Bloj had denied causing death by dangerous driving following the 8.30am crash in Southampton on November 17, 2020.

Witnesses who saw the horror smash compared it to an 'explosion' that resulted in Mr Sullivan's Citroen Relay flying into the air.

Mr Sullivan's vehicle was hit at around 40mph as he waited to join Redbridge roundabout.

Agency driver Bloj had only started working for the Royal Mail a week before and was on his first ever night shift.

The HGV driver was meant to have taken rest breaks but instead watched videos on his phone and texted his partner meaning in the 24 hours leading up to the crash he had a total of just three hours sleep.

He claimed he suffered from an undiagnosed sleep condition but he was convicted by jurors following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

Today, a judge jailed Bloj for four years.

Mrs Sullivan, who ran Ruby's Bakery with her husband in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, is now taking anti-depressants.

In a victim impact statement she said: "November 17 was the day I lost my love and life.

"November 17 was the day after 64 years in life, he took his last breath and slipped away from me.

"November 15 was the last day I was happy.

"I cannot comprehend a life without my husband, my friend, my love.

"I relive his last moments constantly. Did he see the lorry coming? Did he know he was going to die?

"I am single for the first time since I was 19.

"We had finished paying our 30-year mortgage two months before he was killed.

"There is no more time shared with friends. Couples who are now lost to me because it is impossible to be in their company without him.

"He had a wicked sense of humour. If you had known him you would consider it to be a privilege.

"Our six year old grandchild asked me 'What are we going to do at Christmas without Grandad Gorgeous?

"He has decided that Grandad Gorgeous is the Northern Lights."

Mr Sullivan's stepdaughter, Laura Rochford, said driving has now become a trigger for her.

She said: "Driving has become more of a trigger as I drive with a heightened awareness. Motorways are triggering for me.

"However, the most triggering for me is when I see a Royal Mail lorry or I just see the logo.

"Our lives have changed forever, we didn't get to say our goodbyes. He was just gone.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23758991.royal-mail-lorry-driver-jailed-causing-m271-fatal-crash/

On 22/10/2023 06:59 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off at the wheel and killed a grandfather.

Don't we know of someone - let's call him "MS" - who used to waste his
work breaks in order to post to Usenet?

And then panicked when he was the subject of a wind-up to the effect
that two other posters were going to attend the AGM of the company that
MS "worked" for?

QUOTE: A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off at the wheel and killed a grandfather. ENDS

Four years is a pathetic sentence for this killer driver - what a tragedy this twat left in his wake of destruction.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he
> wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off
> at the wheel and killed a grandfather. ENDS

> Four years is a pathetic sentence for this killer driver - what a tragedy
> this twat left in his wake of destruction.

Are you calling the judge incompetent?

That’s a dangerous game to play.

--
Spike

QUOTE: Agency driver Bloj had only started working for the Royal Mail a week before and was on his first ever night shift. ENDS

Ruined his CV on his first day.

On 24/10/2023 08:20 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: Agency driver Bloj had only started working for the Royal Mail a week before and was on his first ever night shift. ENDS
>
> Ruined his CV on his first day.

Night shifts...

One might have expected you to hesitate before mentioning them...

QUOTE: A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off at the wheel and killed a grandfather. ENDS

Four years for taking a man's life?
Pathetic slap on the wrist.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> QUOTE: A Royal Mail lorry driver was today jailed for four years after he
> wasted his sleep breaks on a nightshift to watch videos then nodded off
> at the wheel and killed a grandfather. ENDS

> Four years for taking a man's life?

> Pathetic slap on the wrist.

Rhiannon Bennett’s killer only got a fine.

--
Spike

QUOTE: The 34-year-old's 44-tonne Mercedes lorry ploughed into the back of David Sullivan's Citroen, causing the 64 year old - affectionately nicknamed 'Grandad Gorgeous' - to suffer horrific fatal injuries. ENDS

44 Tonnes? Your plastic hat would have saved you.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> QUOTE: The 34-year-old's 44-tonne Mercedes lorry ploughed into the back
> of David Sullivan's Citroen, causing the 64 year old - affectionately
> nicknamed 'Grandad Gorgeous' - to suffer horrific fatal injuries. ENDS

> 44 Tonnes? Your plastic hat would have saved you.

Even sillier than you normally manage.

--
Spike

QUOTE: The 34-year-old's 44-tonne Mercedes lorry ploughed into the back of David Sullivan's Citroen, causing the 64 year old - affectionately nicknamed 'Grandad Gorgeous' - to suffer horrific fatal injuries. ENDS

Can't anyone make a car from coffee cup foam?
It's magic!

On 24/10/2023 01:05 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: The 34-year-old's 44-tonne Mercedes lorry ploughed into the back of David Sullivan's Citroen, causing the 64 year old - affectionately nicknamed 'Grandad Gorgeous' - to suffer horrific fatal injuries. ENDS
>
> 44 Tonnes? Your plastic hat would have saved you.

When you try to be (a frequent occurrence), you really ARE a *nasty*
piece of work, aren't you?

QUOTE: He claimed he suffered from an undiagnosed sleep condition but he was convicted by jurors following a trial at Southampton Crown Court. ENDS

Did he delare this "condition" BEFORE taking a night shift driving job?

On 27/10/2023 04:46 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: He claimed he suffered from an undiagnosed sleep condition but he was convicted by jurors following a trial at Southampton Crown Court. ENDS
>
> Did he delare this "condition" BEFORE taking a night shift driving job?

OK, we know that it has four syllables and that that will have caused
you difficulties (oops! another four!), but are you REALLY so unaware of
the meaning of the word "undiagnosed"?

A lorry driver was today jailed for four years after a jury found him guilty of falling asleep behind the wheel and causing a fatal crash.

Stefan-Alexandru Bloj, 34, of Osborne Road in Southsea, Portsmouth, was handed a four year jail sentence today for causing death by dangerous driving.

He killed 64-year-old David Sullivan after smashing into the back of the his Citroen Relay van on the M271.

Southampton Crown Court heard Mr Sullivan, from Wivelsfield Green, near Lewes, East Sussex, had slowed down as he approached Redbridge roundabout.

But the court heard how Bloj did not slow down and crashed into the back of the van at about 8.30am, on 17 November, 2020.

A trial last month heard from the prosecution that said Bloj had fallen asleep at the wheel, as he had been using his sleep breaks to phone his partner and watch videos and had only slept for five hours in a 24-hour period.

The jury found Bloj guilty and today he was sentenced to four years in prison and has been given a two-year driving ban, with an extended re-test.

Detective Sergeant Cate Paling, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Bloj drove lorries for a living and knew the dangers of not taking designated sleep breaks.

"His selfish decision to instead use this time to watch videos on his phone meant he was completely unfit to drive through tiredness, endangering the lives of other drivers as well as his own.

"Our thoughts remain with Mr Sullivan's family."

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> A lorry driver was today jailed for four years after a jury found him
> guilty of falling asleep behind the wheel and causing a fatal crash.

Any further news in the intervening two months?

--
Spike

A lorry driver who fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into stationary traffic killing another motorist has been jailed for four years.

Stefan-Alexandru Bloj, 34, of Osborne Road in Southsea, Hampshire, hit David Sullivan's van on the M271 in Southampton in November 2020.

The 64-year-old from Wivelsfield Green, East Sussex, died at the scene.

Bloj was previously found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury at Southampton Crown Court.
Media caption,

CCTV shows Bloj's lorry in the moments before the crash

Mr Sullivan, a father of two with six grandchildren, was killed on the approach to the Redbridge roundabout at about 08:30 GMT on 17 November.

Police said Bloj was tired because he had been using his sleep breaks to phone his partner and watch videos.

Det Sgt Cate Paling said: "Bloj drove lorries for a living and knew the dangers of not taking designated sleep breaks.

"His selfish decision to instead use this time to watch videos on his phone meant he was completely unfit to drive through tiredness, endangering the lives of other drivers as well as his own."

Mr Sullivan's family previously said he was a "beloved husband" who would be "very sorely and sadly missed by everyone who knew and loved him".

Bloj was given a two-year driving ban with an extended re-test.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-66674134

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> A lorry driver who fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into stationary
> traffic killing another motorist has been jailed for four years.

> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-66674134

Nope, nothing to add after two months.

--
Spike

QUOTE: A trial last month heard from the prosecution that said Bloj had fallen asleep at the wheel, as he had been using his sleep breaks to phone his partner and watch videos and had only slept for five hours in a 24-hour period. ENDS

Another lorry driver wiped out an entire family of four people when he mowed into their car after falling asleep at the wheel.
Nobody remembers their names either.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: A trial last month [July 2023, it’s now the end of October] heard
> from the prosecution that said Bloj had fallen asleep at the wheel [17
> November 2020] as he had been using his sleep breaks to phone his partner
> and watch videos and had only slept for five hours in a 24-hour period. ENDS

> Another lorry driver wiped out an entire family of four people when he
> mowed into their car after falling asleep at the wheel.

Not according to the report you failed to attribute.

You ignored this part, bad enough though it is, and made something up just
to suit your pathetic agenda:

“He killed 64-year-old David Sullivan after smashing into the back of his
Citroen Relay van on the M271.”

> Nobody remembers their names either.

There’s only one name, and I suspect you didn’t remember it either.

--
Spike

On Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 12:00:16 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
> QUOTE: A trial last month heard from the prosecution that said Bloj had fallen asleep at the wheel, as he had been using his sleep breaks to phone his partner and watch videos and had only slept for five hours in a 24-hour period. ENDS
>
> Another lorry driver wiped out an entire family of four people when he mowed into their car after falling asleep at the wheel.
> Nobody remembers their names either.

A lorry-driver who ploughed into a broken-down car killing three people while on his phone has been jailed for 12 years. Michal Kopaniarz previously pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the four-vehicle crash on the A303 near Andover on August 25, 2021.

The 39-year-old also admitted perverting the course of justice by breaking the Samsung mobile phone he had been using. University graduate Alex Britton, 28, food delivery driver Tina Ince, 58, and recovery driver Tom Watson, 30, died of “catastrophic injuries”.

Simon Jones, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that Ms Britton’s Vauxhall Astra had broken down and Ms Ince, from Southampton, had stopped in her Mercedes Sprinter food delivery van to help her. Recovery driver Mr Watson also stopped when he saw the stationary vehicles still partly in the carriageway

He was about to winch the Astra onto his recovery vehicle when the defendant’s HGV, travelling at 56mph, ploughed into the rear of the food van which had its hazard lights on. This shunted the Mercedes into the Astra killing the three victims who were stood between the vehicles, Mr Jones said.

The prosecutor said that Kopaniarz had watched a seven minute-long Ladbible video from Facebook on his phone which he had gone on to share with a woman on Facebook Messenger 42 seconds prior to the collision. And at the point of impact, the defendant had been typing the destination for his journey, a Co-op water bottle depot in Andover, into a mapping app.

The defendant continued driving at 56mph when the collision happened and he only applied emergency braking at about 0.2 to 0.5 seconds or nine to 12 metres before impact despite having a clear view of the vehicles for 170m. The court was shown dash-cam footage from Kopaniarz’s lorry as it drove towards the halted traffic and failed to slow down before the collision..

following the crash, Kopaniarz was captured on dash-cam footage snapping his Samsung phone into two pieces which police later rebuilt to obtain the data from it. Mr Jones said: “From the moment of this collision, the defendant’s actions were directed to destroying evidence that he knew implicated him and points towards his culpability and dangerous driving.

“Whilst he said he didn’t see, the reality is that the reason is he was using his phone.”

Several members of the victims’ families paid emotional tributes to their loved ones in the packed courtroom.

Aaron Law, who was engaged to his childhood sweetheart Ms Britton, the mother of their two young daughters, spoke directly looking towards the defendant and said: “My life, my girls’ lives were ruined, changed forever. No-one can ever prepare for having to tell their three-year-old daughter that their mother has died and she would never be coming home, there are no words that I can find to describe how that felt.”

Wiping away tears, he added: “I struggle to care for my broken family in their time of need, I am a broken man, a shell.”

Mr Law said that he would “never forgive” the defendant for the pain caused by his lies following the crash by saying that the brakes had failed on the HGV.

He added: “You took my wife-to-be, you took my best friend, you took the mother of my children, you stole our happy ever after.”

Avril Swain, the mother of Ms Britton, from Portsmouth, who wanted to be a teacher, said: “I am enraged they were killed by such a mindless thing. The hole Alex has left is immense.”

Emma Watson, the widow of Mr Watson, from Southampton, said: “I miss him every second of every day, this has changed my life, I do not sleep very well and wake in the early hours of the morning thinking of the life and happiness we had planned. Tom was amazing with children, he would have been a great father, he wanted us to start a family together, grow old together, you have stolen that from us.”

Ms Ince’s daughter Melissa Green said: “She was a kind, generous and selfless woman who always put others in front of herself.”

Adrienne Knight, defending, said the defendant, who had been a lorry driver for eight years, takes “full responsibility” for the crash..

In a letter to the court, he wrote: “I have a life sentence with gut-wrenching regret and soul-tearing sorrow that will never fade, an impossible torment I will carry as my cross until the end of my days. There are no words to describe how sorry I am.”

Sentencing Kopaniarz, who grew up in Poland and lived in Donnington, Shropshire, Judge Angela Morris told him: “Watching a video on a mobile phone whilst driving is breaking the law. The fact you did so for a length of time shows a lamentable lack of regard for the rules of the road and the safety of other road users.”

Describing his vehicle as a “lethal weapon”, she added: “Being in an articulated lorry, no doubt you felt invincible.”

She continued: “The aggravating factor is that three people lost their lives in the catastrophic manner shown in the dash-cam footage.”

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Cate Paling, of Hampshire police, said: “This was a catastrophic loss of life. Kopaniarz killed three people because he was using his mobile phone and not paying attention to the road.

“The devastating consequences of his selfish actions have torn three families apart. While the sentence passed today will not heal their pain, we are pleased our investigation has provided answers and justice to the loved ones of Alex, Tina and Tom.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 12:00:16 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
>> QUOTE: A trial last month heard from the prosecution that said Bloj had
>> fallen asleep at the wheel, as he had been using his sleep breaks to
>> phone his partner and watch videos and had only slept for five hours in
>> a 24-hour period. ENDS
>
>> Another lorry driver wiped out an entire family of four people when he
>> mowed into their car after falling asleep at the wheel.

Bloj did not wipe out a family.

>> Nobody remembers their names either.
>
> A lorry-driver who ploughed into a broken-down car killing three people
> while on his phone has been jailed for 12 years. Michal Kopaniarz
> previously pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous
> driving in connection with the four-vehicle crash on the A303 near
> Andover on August 25, 2021.

This old news refers to a different case than that of Bloj. I’ll bet you
never remembered those names either.

--
Spike

QUOTE:
> A lorry-driver who ploughed into a broken-down car killing three people while on his phone has been jailed for 12 years. Michal Kopaniarz previously pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the four-vehicle crash on the A303 near Andover on August 25, 2021. ENDS

My mistake - he only wiped out a group of three people and not four as previously suggested.
There are so many of these deaths, it's difficult to keep tabs on them all.