Death crash driver 'fell asleep'

A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel causing a crash in Canada which killed a man from near the Shropshire border and his new son-in-law.

Stanley Jeffreys, originally from Glyn Ceiriog, near Llangollen, and Andrew Bieganski, his son-in-law of two months, were killed when the van they were travelling in was in a collision with a timber lorry shortly after Christmas in 2005.

Lyle Natalski, of Alberta, this week admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving in court in Edmonton. He was given two years' house arrest, a five-year driving ban, will not be allowed to drive trucks again, fined 1,500 Canadian Dollars and given 100 hours of community service.

Under house arrest he cannot leave his property for a year - and in the second year only to go to work.

Natalski, a narcolepsy sufferer, apologised in court for what he had done.

Valerie Jeffreys, Mr Jeffreys's wife read out victim impact statements in court and the judge commented on the tragic loss of such loving, caring individuals. He also praised the families' magnanimity in not condemning the driver in their statements to the court.

Philip Jeffreys, of Llantysilio, Llangollen, Mr Jeffreys's brother, said: "A long custodial sentence would have been the appropriate old-fashioned punishment for the taking of two lives.

"No punishment, however harsh, would have brought back our loved ones.

"So, some comfort can be taken that, with the conditions imposed on the driver as a result of this court sentence, no other families will be bereaved in the future."

Stan Jeffreys, who was 61 when he died, used to run a mobile fish and chip shop around Glyn Ceiriog.