A lorry driver caused the death of an 80-year-old driver after he crashed into the rear of his vintage car in the London to Brighton veteran car run while talking on his mobile phone.
Michael Black, 52, of Crawley, West Sussex, was convicted of causing death by careless driving at Guildford Crown Court after the accident in the 2019 rally.
The driver of the vintage Knox Model C car, Ronald Carey, from Canada, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife Billi suffered life-threatening injuries.
Black was collecting a load for the smart motorway roadworks on the M23 near Merstham, Surrey, when the accident happened on November 3 2019.
A Surrey Police spokesman said: "He had collected a load from the northbound carriageway of the M23 and was on his way to dispose of it.
"Shortly after making a U turn from the northbound carriageway onto the southbound carriageway, his lorry struck the rear of a Knox Model C car, causing both its driver and the passenger to be thrown from the vehicle.
"The driver, Ronald Carey, 80, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The passenger, his wife Billi, was airlifted to hospital with suspected life-threatening injuries.
"The couple had travelled from Canada to take part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
"During the event, Mr Carey had mistakenly taken the slip road for the M23 as opposed to the designated route of the A23.
"Analysis of Black's mobile phone subsequently showed a phone call was in progress at the time of the collision."
Detective Constable Kelly Newton said: "Black's defence was that he simply did not see the car in front of him until it was too late as a result of "looming" and the sun being a distraction.
"Today's verdict has reinforced that this isn't in fact accurate and he was distracted by the use of his mobile phone.
"I hope that the guilty verdict delivered today sends a clear message to other drivers, that losing concentration, even for a few seconds, can have devastating consequences."
Mr Carey made his fortune after founding oil supply company J&L Supply.
He had been a veteran car enthusiast since the 1980s and had a personal collection of motors worth an estimated £3.8 million.
The Canadian had worked his way up the career ladder having started on oil rigs at the age of 17.
On Monday the jury heard how the lorry driver had been trying to phone one of his friends, known as 'Richie' in the moments before the collision.
Under cross examination, Black admitted he had tapped his phone screen to place a call before the accident.
He said: "I actually thought it was alright to tap it (his mobile phone).
"I did not think that it was any worse than touching a stereo. I am not saying that it is alright, but I just tapped the phone."
Asked if he was in denial that he had done anything wrong, Mr Black became emotional and added: "That is not true. I am sorry that is not true.
"Obviously someone has passed away and I have to live with that for the rest of my life and I can never undo that and I have got to live with that every day of my life."
Black will be sentenced on December 8.
