Worksop: Lorry driver sentenced for causing fatal crash
- Published
Christian Ciolompea pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving
A lorry driver who caused the death of a motorist in Nottinghamshire has been spared jail.
Christian Ciolompea was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, after pleading guilty to causing the death of John Brunt, 67, by careless driving.
The crash happened on the A57 near Worksop in December 2022.
Nottinghamshire Police said Mr Brunt's family had asked the judge to show compassion when sentencing Ciolompea.
The crash happened after Ciolompea, 47, from Curtea De Arges, Romania, crossed over give-way markings and did not check the A57 was clear before merging on from a slip road.
His lorry collided with Mr Brunt's Toyota Verso, leaving him in hospital, where he died 11 days after the crash.
The force said the judge at Nottingham Crown Court had described Mr Brunt's family as "magnanimous" in asking him to show compassion to Ciolompea.
He accepted that Ciolompea was genuinely full of remorse and would have to live with causing Mr Brunt's death for the rest of his life.
'Lovely man'
Nottinghamshire Police said the family agreed the suspended sentence was appropriate and may speak to Ciolompea directly in future through a process of restorative justice.
Ciolompea was also banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £1,500 costs with a victim surcharge.
Mr Brunt's daughters, Gemma and Jade, described him as a beloved father and brother.
In a statement they said: "He enjoyed spending time walking in Clumber Park, seeing nature, and driving his car which allowed him to remain independent throughout his life.
"He would spend time with friends on walks in Clumber, chat to the staff at his local shop, and put the world to rights with the neighbours daily.
"John has been described as a lovely man who always had time to listen, and always cared for others."
Det Con Christopher Taylor said his thoughts were with Mr Brunt's family and praised the drivers who stopped and tried to help Mr Brunt after the crash.
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