Driver sentenced after fatal five-vehicle crash

A man has been sentenced to 30 weeks in prison after causing a five-vehicle crash that killed one man and seriously injured another.

James Porter, 23, from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was also banned from driving for two years.

He was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to causing death and serious injury by careless driving at an earlier hearing.

Porter had been travelling on the A1122 near Downham Market, Norfolk, in January 2023 when he drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic.

The court heard how Porter's car collided with an HGV on the other side of the road, causing the HGV to veer offside into oncoming traffic.

The lorry briefly hit one car before it struck a truck, instantly killing the driver, 37-year-old Marcin Zablotny.

The driver of the HGV also suffered a fractured skull that left him with irreparable nerve damage, the court heard.

Dashcam footage of the lead-up to the collision showed Porter clapping his hands together.

He was also seen to be looking into his lap, leaning towards his passenger seat and on occasion, drifting into the opposite lane of traffic.

In a victim personal statement, the driver of the HGV said the crash knocked his "self-confidence and mentality".

He said: "When I was fit enough, I returned to lorry driving but found that I was really affected by the collision psychologically.

"I was worried that something else would happen whilst I was driving."

Tributes have previously been paid to Mr Zablotny by his family, who described him as "the most amazing person, father, son, brother, and friend".

They said: "He will be forever missed as he was an important part of many people's lives, he was loved by many and we will always cherish the time and memories we shared."

Andy Hughes, serious collision investigator for Norfolk Police, said: "Porter's actions resulted in one man losing his life and another sustaining life changing injuries.

"The wider impact of this collision on their families cannot be described, it has left them all devastated but they remain dignified as they cope with consequences of his driving."

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