Driver caused four car crash on A46 near Evesham due to hay fever

Kevin Brake, aged 54, crashed his Vauxhall Vivaro into a stationary Ford Focus on the A46, at the junction of the A44, on June 3 last year.

The impact caused the Ford Focus to collide with an Audi and as a result the Aldi collided with a Volkswagen. All four vehicles were damaged in the crash.

The occupants of the cars suffered injuries, including a broken sternum and leg.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said: "The A46 at that point is a dual carriageway. Four vehicles were waiting to enter the roundabout when the defendant drove his vehicle and it collided in the back of one and the crash shunted the three vehicles forward."

The court heard that on the day of the crash - it was very warm and Brake, who suffers from hay fever, had been working on a thatched roof.

Brake pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Brake said: "I am really sorry for what happened. I still have flashbacks now. I am hopeful the court will let me keep my licence – it is my only way of making a living.

"I am really sorry, I do suffer severely with hay fever- I have inhalers.

"It affected me really bad – whilst I was driving I went into an uncontrollable fit.”

Magistrates fined Brake, of Elmore Road, Bristol, £300, 135 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge. He also received six penalty points on his previously clean licence.

The road has seen a number of deaths in recent years, including in October 2015 when a woman in her 20s lost her life, a man and a woman died in May 2016, two lost their lives in November 2016 and 19-year-old Nat Bailey died in December 2016.