Man involved in ‘very dramatic accident’ on the M1 was 'very lucky no-one was killed or that he wasn’t killed himself', judge says
A man who was involved in a “very dramatic accident” on the M1 near Lisburn has been banned from the roads for two years.
Jordan Gillespie, 26, whose address was given as Millar Street in Belfast, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with driving whilst unfit.
The court heard that on January 14, 2025 police attended the scene of a two-vehicle collision on the M1 near the Applegreen Service Station at Lisburn.
On arrival the police observed a van on its side and another vehicle nearby.
The defendant was the only person in the van and he was said to be unsteady and disorientated.
The driver of the other vehicle said she was in slow moving traffic when the van went into the back of her, and appeared to go over the top of the car and ended up on its side.
A roadside breath test provided by the defendant gave a negative reading. The police then sought a blood sample from the defendant, which he refused to provide.
A defence lawyer told the court: “He has very little memory of the crash itself.
"He had been taking antidepressant medication at the time but that didn’t have an impact on his driving. He is still being treated for depression and PTSD.”
During sentencing, District Judge Rosie Watters said: “This was a very dramatic accident. He is very lucky no-one was killed or that he wasn’t killed himself.”
Ms Watters disqualified the defendant from driving for two years. She also imposed a fine of £250 and an offender’s levy of £15.