A MAN who blacked out while driving on the M6 was fortunate not to cause a serious collision, a court heard.

Ray Rono Rachier was driving a Mercedes Sprinter returning home from work when he crashed into the central reservation on the M6 Southbound near Brunthwaite, prosecutor Martin Turner said.

As a result, the motorway was forced to be temporarily closed, the court heard.

Mr Turner said two officers on mobile patrol were called to the incident at 4am on September 1 last year.

The court heard the defendant told police he had just finished a 16-hour shift working as a highway engineer and that he felt fit to drive.

However, when asked by officers if there was a possibility that he could have fallen asleep, the defendant replied ‘yes’ and said he'd had a blackout, the court heard.

At South Cumbria Magistrates Court on April 16, Rachier, 28, of Cumberland View in Lancaster, pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention (careless driving).

Tayla England, representing Rachier, said her client was called to an emergency callout in Barrow.  

She said: “There is usually a period of rest between shifts but that was unable to happen. He felt okay to drive home to Lancaster but was extremely tired. He cannot be certain he did fall asleep but concedes that it was a possibility.

“There was no damage to any other vehicles and there were no injuries sustained.  There was very little traffic around at the time.

“He unfortunately lost his job in January due to personal circumstances but is hoping to obtain employment again in this industry soon. Disqualifying this defendant from driving would stop him from being able to do that.

“Had the motorway been busier, the situation could have been different to the one he is in today.

The court heard the defendant had three points on his driving licence but no previous criminal convictions.

Imposing a £150 fine and endorsing six penalty points for the offence, District Judge John Temperley said: “This could have been a lot worse than it was.

"I am fairly sure tiredness was the cause of this offence. There is no evidence of damage to other property.”

Rachier was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £60 surcharge.