Sneezing driver who killed pedestrian avoids jail

Truro Crown Court heard Mr Williams immediately tried to help at the scene

A driver who killed an 83-year-old man after a suffering a sneezing fit at the wheel has received a suspended sentence.

A court heard Colin Williams, from Horseshoe Drive, Newton Abbot, Devon, had a sneezing episode but did not slow down or stop his BMW before he struck David and Daphne Clark in St Ives, Cornwall, in April 2024.

The 43-year-old admitted causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving at Truro Crown Court.

He was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for 12 months.

The court heard Williams immediately tried to help at the scene and admitted to police what he had done, telling an officer at the roadside he had a sneezing fit and "tried to dry my eyes".

But he said the couple were "right in front of me" by the time he could see he was on the wrong side of the road.

'Difficult and tragic'

Mr Clark died in hospital from head injuries and his wife suffered life-changing injuries after the crash on Trelyon Avenue.

The court heard Williams, who has no previous convictions, suffered a momentary lapse of concentration and reacted inappropriately but it was not a deliberate act.

Sentencing, Judge Carr said it was a "most difficult and tragic" case.

He said Williams, who was carrying out a second job delivering pizzas at the time, started sneezing and tried to dry his eyes but he should have stopped or slowed down.

The judge described the consequences as catastrophic and no sentence would bring an end for the family or the defendant who he said had shown genuine remorse.