A retired professional driver has admitted he momentarily fell asleep at the wheel and caused a crash on the M6 near Carlisle.
Anthony Dorman, 64, was heading home to Scotland from Manchester Airport with his partner when a collision occurred on the northbound carriageway close to Junction 42.
Police received a call just before 12.30pm on December 21. A black Kia Sportage being driven by Dorman had come to rest on the hard shoulder. It had collided with a white Hyundai, which was stationary in lane three of the motorway.
Both vehicles were damaged. Police had imposed a block on traffic using all three lanes.
In interview Dorman, a diabetic, admitted he had momentarily fallen asleep at the wheel.
He admitted a charge of dangerous driving when he appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court earlier today.
Defence lawyer Kate Hunter, mitigating, said Dorman, of Midcroft Place, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, was a man with no previous convictions.
He had retired five years ago having previously been a professional taxi driver, chauffeur and been the holder of an HGV licence. Dorman, said Miss Hunter, was devastated to find himself in trouble for the first time in his life.
Magistrates adjourned the case for preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report. Dorman was granted unconditional bail and is due to be sentenced at the magistrates’ court on February 14. He faces a mandatory driving ban when he receives his punishment.
