A DRIVER who smashed into another car while reaching into the footwell to grab a Sat Nav has been found guilty of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Conor Sansom, 21, guilty after a four-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Sansom was driving on the A133 towards Colchester when the crash happened near to Bentley Road bridge in Weeley.

His car, a Fiat 500, went across the central white line of the A133 and collided almost head on with a Vauxhall Agila.

The Vauxhall then collided with a Hyundai Getz and the Fiat ended up on its roof in the crash in February last year.

Gazette:

Tragic - Paul Stevens

The Vauxhall was being driven by Paul Stevens, 49, from Elmstead Market.

Mr Stevens was taken to the Royal London Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12.30pm. He died from multiple injuries.

His father, Brian Stevens, was his passenger and suffered serious injuries which were treated as life-threatening including a ruptured diaphragm and a collapsed lung.

Sansom, of Geranium Close, Clacton, admitted a charge of causing the death of Mr Stevens by careless driving earlier this week.

But he had denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Sansom will be sentenced in August.

Investigating officer Pc Jenny Pirie, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Samson took his eye off the road to reach for a sat nav that had fallen in his car, causing it to cross into oncoming traffic and collide with two vehicles.

“His failure to pay attention to the road in a fast moving vehicle resulted in the death of a much loved husband, father, son and brother, and seriously injured one of his passengers who now needs full-time care.

“Paul Stevens was killed by Samson’s act of stupidity, an act that has ruined the lives of a family who were simply on their way to a boot sale for the morning.”

Following the verdict, Paul Steven’s family, said: “Whatever the verdict was given, it doesn’t change the fact that we have lost our wonderful husband, father and grandad. We are so thankful that we have justice for him.

“Thank you to all of those who have supported us though this difficult time. As a family, we like to thank God for carrying us through a horrendous time.

"We will continue now and always to celebrate Paul Steven’s as the amazing man he was and continue to be thankful for the time we were blessed to have with him.”