A POLISH man who attempted to perform a U turn on an unlit major road has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Piotr Janowski was handed the sentence at Winchester Crown Court following a crash on the A34 near the Tufton crossroads.

At around 5.45pm on Saturday, January 24, 2015, an articulated lorry driven by 49-year-old Janowski was involved in a crash with a Vauxhall Zafira on the northbound carriageway of the A34 near Whitchurch.

The court heard that Janowski had attempted to perform a U turn across the carriageway because he had made a wrong turn, and at the time of the crash he was parked across both northbound lanes.

As the Vauxhall Zafira came over the brow of the hill, the driver was unable to stop or avoid the crash.

The front seat passenger of the Vauxhall, 53-year-old Simon Shore from Swindon, Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 40-year-old man, and two rear seat passengers, a 13-year-old girl and 38-year-old man who were all also from Swindon, were left with serious injuries.

Following the crash Janowski was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

After the sentencing, investigating officer PC Katherine Carr said: "My thoughts go out to Mr Shore's family and friends following this collision, which could so easily have been avoided if Mr Janowski had not carried out such a dangerous manoeuvre.

"At the time of the collision it was dark and this stretch of the A34 is completely unlit. The court heard that Mr Janowski attempted to perform a U turn manoeuvre across the carriageway, which he was intending to travel back along as he made a wrong turn. At the time of the collision he was effectively parked across both northbound lanes.

"As the Vauxhall Zafira came over the brow of the hill, the driver was unable to stop or avoid a collision due to the obstruction caused by Mr Janowski's lorry. The Vauxhall was involved in a collision with the side of the trailer. That more people were not seriously injured is the only consolation to come from this case.

"We welcome that the sentence handed down by the court reflects the effect this collision has had on Mr Shore's family and friends."