A lorry driver has been jailed after being caught driving reversing down the M6 Toll road near Burntwood.
Frantisek Formanek, aged 56 and from the Czech Republic, was was caught backing down the northbound carriageway on March 1, blocking all three lanes in the process.
https://youtu.be/hXq-XpeQ6As
He was charged with driving a motor vehicle dangerously and drink driving after a breathalyser reading showed him to be more than twice the legal limit.
Formanek has been sentenced to six months in prison for dangerous driving, four months for drink driving, to run concurrently, and handed a 12 month driving ban requiring him to take a test to regain his licence.
Chief Inspector Jed White said: “We are committed to keeping the motorway network safe for all and will take appropriate action when motorists are acting dangerously.
“On this occasion this driver was clearly putting lives at risk, including his own and the sentence imposed by the court is to be welcomed.”
Formanek was fired by his employer following the incident.
Eddie Stobart’s chief operating officer, David Pickering, said: “Following a very swift internal investigation into this incident, the driver was identified as part of our European operation on a delivery from the Czech Republic to the UK.
“He was immediately dismissed. We have fully supported the police in their investigation and completely endorse their quick and decisive action in response to this individual’s appalling and criminal actions.”
A short video clip of the HGV reversing along the M6 Toll can be seen here: