West Bromwich delivery driver 'fell asleep' at wheel before fatal crash, court hears

Malkit Chaukria, 31, veered off the M5 near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, and crashed into the back of a 44-ton truck which had pulled onto the hard shoulder with a puncture.

His front seat passenger, driver's mate Aaron Ryan, died instantly in the collision, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Earlier the same day Mr Ryan had to wake Mr Chaukria up when he nodded off during their delivery run in the West Country, the prosecution claimed.

The fatal crash happened on the northbound M5 near junction 8 at 6.45pm on November 6, 2014 - about 16 hours after Mr Chaukria had picked Mr Ryan up from home in Birmingham to set off for their delivery run which took them as far south as Weymouth in in Dorset.

Mr Chaukria, of Hill Top denies causing Mr Ryan's death by dangerous driving. He also denies an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.

Prosecutor Mark Worsley told the jury it is the Crown's case that Mr Chaukria was 'dog tired' from days of working very long hours and driving hundreds of miles daily.

"By being in that condition he was driving in a way that fell far below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver," Mr Worsley said.

"This very sad case is an example of what happens when you become too tired to drive and don't take a break."

Mr Worsley said Mr Chaukria and his assistant worked for a Derby-based company, Kevin Gill Transport, delivering white goods across the West Country for the Co-op.

Each day the two men would set off from the Midlands in a Mercedes Sprinter van in the very early hours of the morning and head to Avonmouth, Bristol, where they would pick up the goods to be delivered that day.

They would then make up to 19 deliveries each day across the south-west, including Cornwall, and south Wales.

Mr Worsley said: "They were out for between 15 and 19 hours, five days a week.

"Mr Ryan did not drive so all the driving was done by Mr Chaukria. It was a punishing schedule."

He said that on the day of the tragedy, at midday, Aaron rang his brother Joseph - who had once done the same job.

"It was a significant conversation because Joseph heard his brother say 'wake up.' Aaron then said to Joseph 'this fool's just fallen asleep at the traffic lights'."

Mr Worsley said after the fatal collision no evidence was found of speeding or mechanical failure and Mr Chaukria was not under the influence of drink or drugs. The van had not braked before going off the road and into the parked lorry.

He said: "There is no evidence of a distraction so the only conclusion that leaves is that sleep caused the collision."

When interviewed by police Mr Chaukria insisted he had taken rest breaks during that day.

The trial continues.