Shocking moment cocaine-fuelled shoplifter hits 93mph on motorway before killing lorry driver in crash

By JOSE RAMOS[1]

Published: 16:47, 22 January 2025 | Updated: 17:03, 22 January 2025

Shocking footage showing the moment a cocaine-fuelled shoplifter hit 93mph on the motorway before killing a 'much loved' lorry driver in a horror crash has been revealed.

Ross Neiland, 38, can be seen 'zooming' down the motorway after a shoplifting spree and overtaking cars dangerously in the rain.

It was heard he lost control of his black Volkswagen Polo and smashed into a Nissan Juke.

This then hit a lorry being driven by Michal Kaminski, with the HGV then smashing into a motorway gantry.

A camera on the structure can be seen visibly shaking after the smash which resulted in the lorry becoming 'embedded' into it - killing Mr Kaminski instantly.

The shoplifter's car spins out and following the horror crash, CCTV footage shows the Neiland leaving the stationary car uninjured before offloading bags containing shoplifted goods.

Neiland, who had taken cocaine and was both uninsured and unlicensed, was jailed for over nine years for causing the three-car smash and killing 'the most loved person in the whole world'.

A court heard the crash took place on the M27 between junction seven and junction five near Southampton Airport on February 21 last year.

Ross Neiland, 38, was jailed for nine years after killing a lorry driver while driving at 90mph after a shoplifting spree

It was heard he lost control of his black Volkswagen Polo and smashed into a Nissan Juke

Michal Kaminski, 36, died in a horrific three-car smash caused by Neiland in February last year

Prosecutor Martyn Booth explained how Mr Kaminski was going about his 'normal work routine' as a lorry driver while Neiland was speeding in his black Volkswagen Polo.

There was no evidence of 'any bad driving' from Mr Kaminski, who was travelling in a Mercedes-Benz Atego.

'The defendant on the other hand was, on the face of it, on a shoplifting spree with two others,' Mr Booth said.

'On the morning in question, he left an address in Littlehampton (West Sussex) and travelled to Portsmouth where theft had taken place.

'This was before he and others had made their way towards Southampton, and he was travelling towards Southampton at the time of this collision.'

Mr Booth went on to say Neiland and his accomplices had stolen goods from an Aldi supermarket and golf store.

As he travelled on the road, other motorists spotted his poor driving, with one saying it looked as though he was 'showing off' while others said he was 'zooming' and 'flying' up the road 'like a daredevil' while others described his driving as 'horrendous', 'reckless', 'dangerous', and 'absolutely idiotic' by other road users.

The road conditions were poor as it was raining heavily which meant water on the concrete impacting on visibility.

A camera on the structure can be seen visibly shaking after the smash which resulted in the lorry becoming 'embedded' into it - killing Mr Kaminski instantly

Damage caused to the gantry following the crash on the M27 near Southampton Airport

Neiland had to be restrained by members of the public so as to not escape

Neiland was described as 'really battering on' despite the road conditions and he was spotted moving from side to side.

'He failed to give any thought to the condition he was driving in whatsoever,' Mr Booth added.

At midday, Neiland, driving at 93.96mph, 'lost control' of his car after hitting an area of 'sitting water' on the motorway, leading him to stray from lane four into lane three before crashing into the driver of a Nissan Juke, which then hit into the lorry driven by Mr Kaminiski.

The heavy goods vehicle then jolted into and 'embedded' into a gantry on the side of the road, killing Mr Kaminski 'instantaneously'.

Neiland had to be restrained by members of the public so as to not escape and he was described as being 'verbally abusive', spitting, smelling of alcohol, and acting as if he had been drinking or taking drugs.

The court heard that Neiland was not insured on the car and was driving without having ever had a full licence.

And, while he tested positive to having 'cocaine in his system' - he did not give authorities full permission to test his blood so they could not ascertain if he was drink or drug driving.

The victim's mother Anna told the court her son was the 'most loved person' who never said no to people and always wanted to help.

The scene after the crash and before Mr Kaminski's lorry caught fire. Authorities were forced to shut off a 15 mile stretch of the major motorway for over a day following the incident

The blaze is seen on the other side of the motorway underneath one of the gantrys

Damage caused to the concrete pillar of the overhead gantry back in February, with the remains of the lorry seen behind it

'You killed us too,' she told Neiland. 'Longing is just killing us.

'You all killed our will to live, you all made us feel insane.

'He won't hug us anymore.

We long for his smile, smell.

We can't life a normal life without Michal.'

Tom Horder, defending, told Southampton Crown Court Neiland has been suffering 'regular flashbacks' of the accident and 'deeply wishes he could have changed what happened'.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced Neiland to nine years and nine months in prison for killing Mr Kaminski, from Salisbury, Wilts.

He said: '[Mr Kaminski] was a person with hope and ambition, a responsible man trying to make a living and make a positive contribution to society.

'As his mother said in a very moving statement, you took the most loved person in the whole world.

'I find it very difficult to accept you as a victim in this case.

Mr Kaminski's (pictured) mother Anna told the court her son was the 'most loved person' who never said no to people and always wanted to help

She added that she would no longer be able to live a normal life without Michal (pictured)

Michal Kaminski, left, with members of his family before his death last year

'You seem to contribute very little to society but you are quite happy to take from it, whether it is stealing or acting irresponsibly to those around you.'

Judge Henry said the collision was 'almost inevitable' due to the excessive speeds driven by Neilands and the 'obvious dangerous manoeuvres'.

'[Mr Kaminski's] death was utterly avoidable - even if you had thought for a moment about other people on the road,' the judge continued.

'This was a complete tragedy for the family and friends of Mr Kaminski and the court is very sympathetic with them.'

After the collision, which took place near Southampton Airport, authorities were forced to shut off a 15 mile stretch of the major motorway for over a day.

Neiland, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving uninsured, and causing death by driving unlicensed.

He also accepted a charge of failing to give specimen for analysis.

References

1. ^ JOSE RAMOS (www.dailymail.co.uk)