One of Wales’ worst drivers left 3 people seriously hurt in M4 crash but he keeps dodging prison

Simeon Adanah is already subject to one suspended sentence for another piece of dangerous driving. He has now been handed a second one

22:13, 31 Mar 2026

The crash happened on the westbound M4 motorway between Pyle and Port Talbot(Image: Google Maps)

A van driver who seriously injured three people in a crash on the M4[1] has been handed a suspended prison sentence - which he will carry out alongside the suspended sentence he is currently serving for a different episode of dangerous driving.

Simeon Adanah caused a multi-vehicle pile-up when he failed to slow down in roadworks on the motorway and slammed into the car in front of him which was briefly launched into the air as it was forced into the car ahead of it.

The 50-year-old's advocate said "a lot has happened" since the crash - including his client committing further motoring offences - but he said the defendant had shown "a great deal of remorse" for what he did.

Newport Crown Court[2] heard that at 5pm on November 29, 2023, Adanah was driving his van on the westbound M4 between Pyle and Port Talbot[3] - at the time there were roadworks on that stretch of the motorway, and the road was down to two lanes and was subject to a 50mph limit.

The court heard that a driver behind Adanah's white van slowed down to 50mph when she entered the roadworks but noticed the defendant did not, and she became concerned about his driving.

A short time later the defendant "drove into collision" with the car in front of him, causing the car he hit to briefly "lift off the ground". The court heard that car was forced into the rear of the car in front of it, which was in turn pushed into the back of the car ahead of it. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter[4]

Three people in the cars were seriously injured as a result of the collision - one sustained a broken kneecap; one a fractured shin bone, fractured ankle, fractured sternum, and three fractured ribs along with severe bruising to the groin; and one suffered four broken ribs.

None of the injured motorists wanted to provide victim impact statements.

Simeon Adanah, of High Street, Swansea[5] city centre, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

He has 11 previous convictions for 27 offences including driving with no insurance and driving while using a mobile phone in 2011, driving under the influence of drugs in 2012, and driving with no insurance in 2017.

Since the crash in 2023, the defendant has been convicted of, and been sentenced for, driving under the influence of drugs in 2024, and dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident from 2025. He is currently subject to a suspended sentence imposed for the 2025 matter.

Steven Burnell, for Adanah, said "a lot has happened" in the two-and-a-half-years since the M4 crash.

He said it had to be accepted that his client had committed further motoring offences since 2023 but said he had responded positively to the suspended sentence order imposed last year. He said Adanah was suffering with complex PTSD, and said he had shown "a great deal of remorse" for his actions on the day in question.

Recorder Aidan Eardley KC said as traffic began to back up in the M4 roadworks on the evening in question the defendant had not slowed down and had crashed into the car in front of him, a collision which ultimately left three people with serious injuries.

He said the offending was so serious it crossed the custody threshold but that the defendant was making good progress on his current suspended sentence and that serving the custodial sentence immediately would "disrupt" the work that was being done in regard to Adanah's mental heath issues.

With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas, Adanah was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and banned from driving for 15 months.

The defendant will have to pay GBP500 towards prosecution costs.

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References

1. ^ the M4 (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Newport Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ Port Talbot (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
6. ^ our WhatsApp community here (chat.whatsapp.com)
7. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)