Killer truckie jailed in Aussie

MELBOURNE - A sleep-deprived truck driver who ploughed into stopped traffic on a Melbourne freeway, killing a man, has been jailed for three years.

Shayne Hodge, 42, drove his prime mover into a line of stopped cars on the West Gate Freeway in September 2005.

The Victorian County Court heard Hodge was driving at the 100km/h speed limit and took no evasive action before hitting the car in front of him, killing Brian Noonan whose car was engulfed in flames.

Judge John Smallwood said Hodge was severely sleep deprived and had traces of amphetamines in his system.

He said the incident was disturbingly similar to a crash Hodge was involved in in 1994 where another person was killed.

"The public has got to be protected from the dreadful consequences of driving such as this."

Hodge was jailed for a minimum of 18 months.

- AAP