Dangerous driver is jailed for a year after his camper van flipped on M6 when he swerved into central reservation

  • David Whitehead, 49, from Burnley, was watched for 35 miles on M6
  • His driving horrified motorists who bombarded police with phone calls
  • The motorhome was seen weaving in and out of traffic at up to 80mph 
  • Whitehead was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for three  

By Matt Hunter For Mailonline

Published: 17:50 EST, 13 November 2016 | Updated: 02:09 EST, 14 November 2016

This is the terrifying moment when an out-of-control camper van swerved into a central reservation before crashing and flipping over on a motorway.

Dangerous driver David Whitehead, 49, was watched for 35 miles down the M6 by horrified motorists who bombarded police with concerned calls.

His motorhome was seen weaving in and out of traffic, and veering at 80mph across lanes as cars pulled out of his way in terror.

His motorhome was seen weaving in and out of traffic, and veering at 80mph across lanes as cars pulled out of his way in terror

Cumbria Police had received a flood of calls from members of the public who saw Whitehead's camper van weaving all over the southbound M6

Carlisle Crown Court heard Whitehead eventually smashed into the central reservation and flipped his vehicle over on April 8 this year.

The smash - which did not involve any other vehicle - was all captured on the dashboard-mounted camera of a worried driver who had followed him out of a service station near Kendal, Cumbria.

Now Whitehead has been jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of blood to police.

Judge Philip Grundy told him: 'The reality is that you posed a considerable risk indeed - a risk of serious injury or death.'

Whitehead, of Burnley, Lancashire, was also given a three-year driving ban.

Now Whitehead has been jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of blood to police

Carlisle Crown Court heard Whitehead eventually smashed into the central reservation and spectacularly flipped his vehicle over on April 8 this year

Cumbria Police had received a flood of calls from members of the public who saw Whitehead's camper van weaving all over the southbound M6.

His vehicle was seen being driven erratically and going out of control between Southwaite, near Carlisle and the South Lakes.

A fellow motorist with a dashboard-mounted camera followed the motorhome out of a service area near Kendal.

Moments later the witness watched in shock as it slammed into the central reservation, overturned and came to rest on the hard shoulder.

The court heard debris was strewn across the carriageway but fortunately no other damage was caused.  

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