Crash lorry driver spared prison

The tanker crash caused severe delays on the M6

A lorry driver who fell asleep and caused a crash which closed the M6 in Cumbria for several hours has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Guntars Zuments, 25, from Latvia, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the accident on 2 February.

Carlisle Crown Court heard Zuments was driving a 40-ton articulated lorry when he hit a tanker containing liquid gas which ended up on its side.

He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was also banned from driving in the UK for three years and ordered to pay £700 costs.

The court heard how Zuments had fallen asleep when he hit the tanker, which was pushed through the central reservation and ended up on its side blocking both carriageways.

Specialist vehicles were brought in to remove the tanker which crashed near Southwaite Services, south of Carlisle.

No-one was hurt during the crash, although the motorway was closed for several hours.