M6: Daniel Burba jailed after killing 14-year-old son in crash

Daniel Burba was behind the wheel of a Peugeot Bipper van when it collided with a tree just off the southbound hard shoulder of the M6 between junctions 34 and 33. His 14-year-old son Ryan was in the front passenger seat in the vehicle at the time. He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving a vehicle while unlicensed, causing death by driving a vehicle whilst uninsured and drug driving.

Weeks before the fatal collision, he had been told he was not allowed to drive because of a medical condition, having been diagnosed with epilepsy. However, the defendant was found to be four times over the limit for cocaine and its derivative benzoylecgonine. He was also found to have traces of amphetamine in his system.

He suffered an epileptic fit moments before the collision, aggravated by his use of cocaine. Enquiries revealed Burba only held a provisional driving licence and was also not insured to drive the Bipper. Other motorists described the Bipper to be driving with its hazard lights flashing and in an 'erratic manner' and in excess of the 70mph speed limit.

This led to a subsequent loss of control where the Bipper sharply veered to the left, leaving the carriageway to the nearside and up the grass embankment where it struck a tree. The force of the collision caused the vehicle to roll over. Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene with a Home Office Post Mortem examination concluding that he died as a result of head injuries.

Burba was taken to hospital but was discharged later in the week and subsequently arrested upon his release from hospital. At Preston Crown Court on August 5, His Honour Judge Robert Altham, The Honorary Recorder of Preston, jailed Burba, of Arnside Crescent, Morecambe, for 10 years. He was also banned from driving for 14 years and five months as well as being told to take an extended retest if he ever wished to get behind the wheel of a vehicle again.

Sgt Martin Wilcock, Senior Investigating Officer at our Road Policing Unit, said: "No sentence will ever make up for any loss of life, particularly in these tragic circumstances. "However, Daniel Burba will have the rest of his life to reflect upon the catastrophic consequences his decision to consume drugs and then get behind the wheel have had. Sadly, his son will not.

"I hope the outcome of this case sends a strong message out to anyone who is considering driving, having been told by a doctor not to. Or anyone who is considering driving, having consumed drugs or alcohol. "As is so very obvious from this case, you run the risk of taking a life but also ruining many others - including your own."

He added: "This was a major incident that resulted in the closure of the motorway for a significant period of time.

"We know there was some frustration at the time, but we hope the public understand that the carriageway needed to be closed to facilitate the investigation work that resulted in this conviction and significant sentence."