Driver’s death sparks fresh M6 smart motorway concerns as coroner demands action

A coroner has raised concerns over smart motorways after the death of a man whose stranded car was hit by a lorry on a section of the M6 without a hard shoulder. Kevin O'Reilly died from a 'large bleed inside the brain' months after the Staffordshire collision near junction 12. His black Mitsubishi had been stranded in lane three of the northbound carriageway after running out of fuel on the morning of June 29, 2023, when it was struck by a Volvo HGV.

The collision, which occurred at 5.51am, left Mr O'Reilly with a traumatic brain injury. He was subsequently treated for his injuries in many hospitals and rehabilitation facilities before a CT scan on February 6 last year revealed the fatal brain bleed. Mr O'Reilly passed away on the same day.