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Drivers to be prosecuted after ignoring full M61 closure for serious incident – Blog Preston
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Prosecution letters in the post for those who ignored motorway closure.
Posted on 28th February 2026 – 7:18am
Delays on the M61 near Junction 8 on Wednesday Pic: Chris Marshall/Preston Traffic and Travel 
A number of drivers can expect to be prosecuted after ignoring a motorway closure where a person’s life was in danger.
Emergency services were called to the M61 at junction 8 to a concern for safety incident at around 8.25pm on Wednesday[6] (25 February).
The motorway was closed in both directions for a brief period of time while police dealt with the incident and red Xs were used to signpost to drivers that this was the case.
The incident was confirmed as resolved safely before 9pm, but a number of drivers ignored the closure and continued with their journey.
Police have now indicated that those drivers will be prosecuted.
A spokesperson for police said: “On 25/2/26 at approximately 2025hrs Officers were dealing with a serious incident on the M61 requiring a full motorway closure in both directions.
“However, some drivers thought the block didn’t apply to them and breached it. Prosecution paperwork is in the post.”
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Jamie Nicholls has been spared jail for killing Michael Stone in the M32 crash near Bristol
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Bristol Crown Court.(Image: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
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Emergency services at the scene of a “massive” crash on the M32 southbound(Image: Andrew Dennehy)
A man has been sentenced for causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving following a fatal crash on the M32 near Bristol.
Jamie Nicholls has been banned from driving for 12 months for causing a five-car collision that happened on the M32 Junction 1 exit slip road at Hambrook shortly before 10am on August 22, 2024.
Several people were found to have sustained injuries, including 68-year-old Michael Stone, from Longwell Green, who sadly died at the scene.
Nicholls, from Otterhampton near Bridgwater, crashed his van into the back of Mr Stone’s car at high speed.
The 48-year-old told officers at the scene that he ‘looked down for a cigarette for a second or two seconds’ and by the time he looked back up again he could not brake his van to avoid Mr Stone’s blue Peugeot that was stationary in a queue behind other vehicles. The Peugeot then collided with a third car in front of it, leading to further collisions with a fourth and fifth vehicle.
A colleague of Mr Stone was a passenger in the car and sustained significant physical injuries, including seven broken ribs and a head injury, notwithstanding the mental toll it took.
Nicholls and another driver also required hospital treatment.
Last month, Nicholls pleaded guilty to one count each of causing death and serious injury by careless driving.
He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, February 26, to 14 months suspended for 18 months, 12 months’ disqualification, subject to an extended test, 60 days’ curfew and 10 days’ rehabilitation, victim surcharge and costs.
Noelie Poupard, officer in the case, said: “This was a collision caused by Nicholls’ failure to concentrate on the road ahead of him.
“A motorist looking away from the road, even for a second, will cover quite a significant distance when they are travelling 70mph and the consequences can be horrendous, as this case painfully demonstrates.
“Poor concentration at the wheel is one of the fatal five reasons behind collisions and it is entirely avoidable.
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“Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Michael Stone’s devastated family.
“It’s impossible not to be moved by Penny’s heart-breaking words. We sincerely hope drivers take onboard her comments and understand the importance of driving safely, because doing so will help to prevent other families suffering the same heartache.”
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