A driver who worked a double 19 hour shift before he ploughed into a parked HGV, killing his colleague and friend, has been jailed for nine months.
Stephen Robinson 33, was returning home at around 5.15am on March 22, along with his colleague and friend Alex Dickson, 34.
They had been returning from work, after being part of a safety convoy escort on roadworks on the A69 at Gilsland, west of Hexham.
Robinson, who had worked 47 hours in the three days leading up to the crash, crashed into the HGV, which did not have its parking lights on.
He told police at the time that he had mistaken green cats eyes next to a layby for a slip road, moments before the crash took place, Teesside Live reported.
Mr Dixon from Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, died at the scene of the crash after sustaining devastating injuries.
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He was due to be married to his partner Gemma Ritzema last week, with Robinson due to be his best man.
She told the court that she had been left with a life sentence of grief following his death.
Ms Ritzema said: We were due to be married last week but instead, one week later, I am sat in court listening to the moment my whole world came crashing down.
I spent time planning his funeral when I should have been planning our wedding.
