A man who left a dad to be to die after crashing into him at 128mph on the M6 has been jailed.
John Yates , 28, from North Wales, was driving at high speed through temporary roadworks when he crashed into Christopher Smith, 41, at around 12.30am on November 15 2022, on the M6 northbound between Lymm and Thelwall.
He appeared at Chester Crown Court today, January 20, where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.
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Yates, of no fixed abode, was seen undertaking a number of vehicles shortly before the fatal crash, ignoring multiple warning signs and a temporary 50mph speed limit.
As he approached the area where the traffic was merging, his white Volkswagen Scirocco collided with the side of a Peugeot 307, before hitting the back of Mr Smith's black Peugeot 107 at high speed. He then got out of his car and ran away from the scene.
The driver of the Peugeot 307, a 28-year-old woman from Preston, along with a 25-year-old passenger, both escaped with minor injuries. But Mr Smith - who had left work early to spend time with his heavily pregnant wife in St Helens - suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Salford Royal hospital, where he died on November 16.
Yates was arrested at around 5.30am after he returned to the motorway.
He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, and will be banned from driving for seven years following his release.
Sergeant Simon Degg, of the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Cowardly Yates left the scene. Rather than staying to try to help Christopher and face the consequences of his actions, he ran off and left him to die.
“Even after he was located, he denied any involvement in the collision, and throughout questioning he declined to answer any questions and refused to provide samples of breath or blood. His parting comments to investigators was that he puts all of his trust in those investigating the collision.
“That investigation showed that Yates was travelling at 128mph when he collided unnecessarily with the rear of Christopher's car.
“Christopher was a true gentleman, he had left work early that day so that he could spend time with his heavily pregnant wife. He was excited at the prospect of becoming a dad and a gentleman who was doing nothing wrong whatsoever.
“While Yates pleaded guilty, he had shown no remorse of his actions and he deserves to be behind bars for a substantial amount of time.
“Because of the actions taken by Yates that day, Christopher will never get to meet his child and be the loving father that he would have been.
“While no court result could ever make up for the loss or the pain that his family have endured, but I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide some closure. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
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