John Yates jailed for death crash on M6 Thelwall Viaduct

Chris Smith, 41, was tragically killed on the M6 Thelwall Viaduct after John Yates smashed into him while hitting speeds of around 128mph.

Mr Smith, who had dreamed of having his own family since the age of 17, had been travelling home from work to ‘cuddle his six-month pregnant wife and her belly’.

Yates, who was under the influence of drugs, fled the scene by jumping over a barrier immediately after the incident.

The 28-year-old appeared before Chester Crown Court today, Friday, after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

The horrific incident happened on the M6 between junction 20, Lymm, and junction 21, Woolston, on November 15 last year at around 12.30am.

This part of the motorway had been reduced from four lanes to just one due to roadworks and a speed restriction of 50mph was in place as a result.

Mr Smith had been on his way home from work at the time and had finished his night shift early so he could spend the next few days decorating his baby’s nursery and go pram shopping with his partner, prosecutor Jayne Morris said.

Yates, of NFA but previously of North Wales, approached the roadworks at such a speed that it wouldn’t have been possible to stop according to some witnesses.

As the lanes were being reduced to one, Yates tried to fit into a gap between Mr Smith’s car and another driver’s car by ‘pushing through cones’.

But due to travelling at more than 100mph and ‘leaving it too late’, he was unable to do so and clipped one of the cars before smashing into the back of Mr Smith’s Peugeot.

This caused both his and Mr Smith’s vehicles to spin out ‘multiple times’ and end up on the hard shoulder.

Ms Morris explained that here, Yates fled the scene, leaving his shoes behind, while witnesses and those driving by tried to help Mr Smith, who was seriously injured, out of his car. But the doors would not open.

Emergency services were then called and Mr Smith was taken to Salford Royal Hospital. Meanwhile officers were supported by a police helicopter to try and locate Yates.

He was found later that morning nearby the scene and was barefoot. The court heard how he refused to provide a breath or blood sample to officers.

Mr Smith tragically died on November 16 due to head and chest injuries caused by the crash.

Ms Morris read a victim impact statement from Mr Smith’s partner to the court.

“Three months ago, my life was as near to perfect as possible.

“It was the happiest I have ever been in my life.

“No words can truly describe the heartbreak when doctors told me Chris was brain dead.

“I have been robbed of my soulmate, the one I was going to marry.

“My son has been robbed of his father.

“John Yates will never be forgiven for what he has done.”

Yates has a previous conviction from 2018 for a drug driving-related offence.

Defending, Sarah Badrawy said her client, who works in the caring profession is ‘deeply remorseful’.

Ms Badrawy said that her client has used drugs, namely cannabis and cocaine since a difficult time in his life a number of years ago.

She said his explanation for leaving the scene is that he was ‘overwhelmed’ with what the consequences of his actions would be.

Concluding, judge Simon Berkson said: “The circumstances of this case are truly tragic and Chris Smith needlessly lost his life, solely because of your dangerous driving fuelled by your illicit use of illegal drugs.

“It is clear from the evidence in this case that you were driving the Volkswagen sirocco, a powerful car, at a very fast speed.

“CCTV has been played to those in court and it is a truly frightening picture of what happened.

“It is shocking to see how fast the whole incident takes place.

“You then got out of the car and ran away - this was you leaving the scene of your awful crime.”

Talking about the impact on Mr Smith’s partner and baby who he said have been ‘robbed’ of a soul mate and father, Mr Berkson added: “There is no sentence that this court can pass that can in any way represent that loss.”

Yates received an eight-year and three-month prison sentence which he must serve two-thirds of.

He is also disqualified from driving for seven years which will start on the date of his release.