A lorry driver who killed another motorist in a crash claimed a sneezing fit caused him to plough into their car on the A1. Raymond Buff, 55, failed to stop for stationary traffic and drove into the back of a Volkswagen Golf in December 2019.
The car’s 39-year-old driver, Matthew Mitchell, of Stamford in Lincolnshire, died in hospital the day after the crash, which happened near Eaton Socon. Buff, of Birkenhead, Merseyside, claimed to police at the scene that he had a sneezing fit which prevented him from seeing the traffic in time.
He was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court to nine months in prison, Cambridgeshire Police said. Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard said: “Mr Buff was a professional, experienced HGV driver, but he was responsible for the collision on the A1 and the subsequent death of Mr Mitchell.
“Mr Buff claimed he failed to react to congested traffic owing to a sneezing fit. This highlights the importance of being always aware of your surroundings while driving, and this is even more important if you are driving a lorry.”
Buff admitted causing death by careless driving. He was also disqualified from driving for a year.
