HGV driver Michael Coombes, from Stowmarket, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, after smashing into a stationary queue of traffic at 55mph.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court heard that 62-year-old Coombes had been driving his HGV eastbound along the A14 on May 4, 2007, when he failed to brake and hit the queue of stationary traffic.
Coombes' HGV crashed into a caravan that was being towed by a Mitsubishi 4 x 4 containing a family of five. An eight-year-old boy was killed as a result of the impact.
In court, tachograph evidence was given showing that two other HGVs took 30 seconds to safely slow down and stop behind the stationary queue of traffic. Coombes could not explain the 30 second period before the crash on May 4 2007, which caused a six vehicle pile up and destroyed the Elbrow family's caravan.
William's father, Simon, recalled looking in his mirror and realising the lorry was going to hit them but realised there was nothing he could do to stop the accident.
After the unanimous verdict by the jury, Coombes was released on bail and returned to court in October for sentencing. Sergeant Lyndon Pickston, Cambridgeshire Police senior accident investigation officer, told CM: "We are happy that this conviction sends a clear message of the tragic consequences of driving dangerously. Coombes' prolonged inattention to the road resulted in a young boy needlessly losing his life."
Coombes was sentenced to 30 months in prison but will only serve a 15-month term before being released on licence for the remaining half of his sentence.
