A Slovakian lorry driver has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for causing the death of a father and his two daughters and seriously injuring three members of another family in an horrific motorway pile-up.

Juraj Orsula can expect to walk free in about three years and return to his family, but there would be no such happy outcome for those affected by the tragedy, said a judge.

The 46-year-old married father had previously indicated he would be pleading not guilty, claiming he was blinded by the sun when the tragedy happened on the M26 at Kemsing on April 16 last year.

But when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today he admitted causing the death of French national Michael Akande, 54, and his daughters, Mary, 16, and Helen, 22, by dangerous driving.

He also admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving to John Carroll and his two sons, aged four and seven.

Orsula was banned from driving for seven years and will have to take an extended test before his licence can be returned.

A judge agreed to proceed to sentence after hearing that relatives of Mr Akande and his two daughters had travelled from their home near Paris especially for the hearing.

Mr Akande’s daughters, both students, died at the scene of the crash. Mr Akande, a religious speaker who was driving a Nissan Terrano, died from his injuries two weeks later. His wife survived.

Mr Carroll and his wife Jessica had been travelling in a Mini One with Freddie, six, and Alfie, four, on a day out to Legoland.

“No words from this court and no sentence of the court is going to make any difference (to Mr Akande's widow). It cannot return her children and husband to her... - Judge Jeremy Carey

They were living in Sittingbourne at the time but have since moved to Maidstone.

A total of eight people needed hospital treatment after the accident involving two lorries, two cars and a van.

Prosecutor Mark Halsey said traffic was backed up and stationary on the motorway at 9.30am because of an earlier accident on the M25.

Orsula ploughed into the back of the Mini, causing the “catastrophic” accident - described by witnesses as an explosion.

His tachograph showed he failed to brake or slow down as he drove at 53mph. He covered the last 400 metres in just under 15 seconds.

“Witnesses described the lorry continuing at motorway speeds and not showing any sign of slowing,” said Mr Halsey.

Mr Carroll suffered a fractured skull, causing a long-term brain injury. Freddie had a severe brain injury and broken leg and now needs a wheelchair. Alfie had a fractured thighbone and broken finger.

Mrs Carroll described in a moving statement the devastation caused to her family.

Mr Halsey said of the Akande family: “Words cannot describe the catastrophe they have suffered.”

Judge Jeremy Carey told Orsula, who sat with his head bowed: “It is absolutely plain that you continued to drive your vehicle at a constant speed until the collision.

“Plainly, therefore, you were not paying attention to the road ahead, or you would not have driven at that speed without braking or decelerating.

“I accept you were distracted by the sun shining in your wing mirror, but I am quite satisfied it was no more than a distraction.

“The effect of your driving was catastrophic. I have no doubt that the impact on Mrs Akande as a wife and mother was, is and will remain devastating.

"This was a desperately tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of a father and his two daughters, and has left a huge hole in the lives of everyone who knew and loved them..." - Det Con David Holmes

“No words from this court and no sentence of the court is going to make any difference to that, nor can it. It cannot return her children and husband to her.

“It cannot make her feel any less mortified by anything she has experienced and continues to experience.”

The judge said the court also did not underestimate the impact on the Carroll family.

“The sentence doesn’t do any more than demonstrate the quite appalling nature of your driving and the effect of it,” he continued.

“Prison sentences at least show how serious society regards this offending.

“You will in a period of years walk fee and return to your family. For those affected by your driving there will be no such eventual happy outcome.

“This was in the circumstances grossly excessive speed sustained for a period of time as you closed in on a line of cars that were absolutely vulnerable to that grossly dangerous driving.

“Moreover, there was gross avoidable destruction.”

After the sentencing, Detective Constable David Holmes said: "This was a desperately tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of a father and his two daughters, and has left a huge hole in the lives of everyone who knew and loved them.

"The events of that day will linger long in the memory of those affected, some of whom will never fully recover from their injuries.

"Juraj Orsula claims he was blinded by the sun in the moments leading up to the collision, which should have been reason enough to reduce his speed.

"Instead he continued to drive as normal before crashing into stationary traffic and leaving a trail of devastation around him. He must now live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life.

"Hopefully Orsula's sentencing will mark the start of the healing process for everyone affected by this devastating incident, and our thoughts are with them all today.

"I would like to thank the families involved for their patience and dignity throughout the criminal justice process."