A “highly experienced” Spanish lorry driver, who had been driving on the UK’s roads for 26 years, has been jailed for two years after killing a man whilst driving in the wrong lane on an A-road.
Cambridge Crown Court heard that Jose Galdon-Donate from Murcia had been driving for about a mile on the A505 near Duxford around 3.45 am on 2 February, when his refrigerated Mercedes truck hit a car driven by Vasile Chiorean, 48, who died at the scene near Flint Cross.
Galdon-Donate, 55, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
He was also disqualified from driving for a total of four years at Cambridge Crown Court.
While at the scene, Galdon-Donate, who had minor injuries, said he had "taken the wrong lane" and was in the "opposite one", adding “it was my fault”.
Evidence read out in Cambridge Crown Court last week, showed that Galdon-Donate had started his engine at 3.11am on 2 February after resting overnight, remaining static until 3.39am, when he continued his journey along the A505.
In a police interview, Galdon-Donate said he was a "highly experienced" lorry driver and had driven on English roads for the last 26 years.
He claimed he was driving in the middle of the road as it was "smoother to drive", and when challenged whether he was driving on the wrong side of the road because he thought he was in Europe, he denied this but admitted his driving was dangerous.
Chiorean, who was from Haverhill in Suffolk, was remembered by his family as a "loving father, husband and son with an infectious laugh and smile".
His son Alex said: "The 2nd February marks the day I lost more than a father, I lost an idol, a mentor, a friend, and someone I could speak to about everything and anything.
"He was the best person I have ever known. He had a way to make anything into a joke and make the whole room just burst into laughter, he was kind, often helping neighbours with random work on the street or driving someone so they can buy a new car."
