A LORRY driver has been cleared of causing the death of a woman and her grandson.

Roger Fuller, 51, of Willow Way, Dovercourt, had denied causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving, on August 20 last year.

He was found not guilty by a jury on Friday.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Christine Taylor, 59, and her grandson, 15, both of Coventry, died after Fuller’s 38-tonne articulated lorry hit the Fiat Punto they were travelling in. The impact, on the A14 at Trimley, pushed the car into another lorry.

The prosecution had claimed Mr Fuller had not been driving with the necessary care and attention which would have enabled him to stop. It was alleged during the trial that Mr Fuller had failed to heed illuminated signs warning traffic was at a standstill up ahead, due to a broken down lorry.

In the moments leading up to the crash, the court heard Mr Fuller had maintained a constant speed.

The jury were also told Mr Fuller claimed he had sneezed prior to the collision. Cross-examined by Matthew Gowen, prosecuting, Mr Fuller said he was unable to explain why he had not seen the two overhead warning signs before the impact.

Speaking after the case, Mr Fuller said: “My thoughts are with the Taylor family and always have been.”

Mr Fuller returned to work six weeks after the crash. His boss, Robin Hat, described him as a “very, very good driver” when he gave evidence.