Overview
- A judge at Hull Crown Court halted the careless driving trial and directed the Corsa driver's acquittal.
- The case arose from an August 12, 2023 collision on the southbound M1 near Wakefield after a Ford Fiesta stopped in lane three when its front offside tyre tore off.
- CCTV played in court showed the tyre shredding, the Fiesta coming to a halt, and a Vauxhall Corsa hitting it about 29 seconds later without visible braking.
- Elise Thomas, 17, suffered critical injuries and died in hospital on August 18, 2023, while a friend sustained life‑changing injuries.
- The defence cited a perception effect known as “looming,” where a driver may misjudge how quickly a stopped vehicle is closing in, underscoring the difficulty of proving fault in fast‑moving motorway hazards.