Moment Mercedes swerves across M5 motorway and smashes into crash barrier after driver loses control in heavy rain ‘while using her phone’
- Driver crashes into barrier on M5 in heavy rain whilst allegedly ‘using her phone’
- Incident took place on M5 northbound, Dudley, West Midlands, May 3 4.53pm
- Dashcam footage from Paul Stanford’s BMW M3 captured the dramatic incident
Horrifying dashcam footage shows the moment a driver loses control skidding across three lanes of a motorway in treacherous rain before smashing into a crash barrier.
The incident took place on the M5 northbound, close to junction 3 in Halesowen, Dudley, West Midlands, on Monday May 3 at 4.53pm.
As the clip begins it is immediately obvious that road conditions are poor with rain lashing at the windscreen of Paul Stanford’s car as he drives at a cautious 58mph.
Despite the danger posed by the bad weather the camera in Mr Stanford’s car captures a number of cars continuing to overtake.
Just moments later a white Mercedes car, travelling in the third lane, loses control and veers across the motorway in front of Mr Stanford’s vehicle, before colliding with the crash barrier on the hard shoulder.
Thankfully Mr Stanford was able to stop his BMW M3 with inches to spare, narrowly avoiding the Mercedes which had strewn its bonnet, car parts and other debris onto the motorway during the crash.
The once luxury vehicle is extensively damaged and barely recognisable as it comes to a stop facing towards the camera car.
It is alleged that the woman behind the wheel was on her phone at the time of the accident, and that she was mid conversation with the phone still to her ear after the crash.
The incident took place on the M5 northbound, close to junction 3 in Dudley, West Midlands on Monday May 3 at 4.53pm. A white Mercedes begins to skid across the motorway (pictured)
It is alleged that the woman behind the wheel was on her phone at the time of the accident
The BMW was able to stop before hitting the Mercedes, which had strewn it’s bonnet, car parts and other debris onto the motorway during the crash
The once luxury vehicle is extensively damaged and barely recognisable as it comes to a stop facing towards the camera car
Mr Stanford shared the footage online at the weekend and wrote: ‘Here’s a good reason not to be on your phone in the rain.’
The clip has been viewed over 8,000 times and attracted dozens of comments with many praising him for his quick reactions.
One user wrote: ‘How on earth did you manage to stop in time in those conditions? Well Done!’
Another commented: ‘This is why you don’t skimp out on budget tyres.’
While a third added: ‘Looks more like the white one is on cruise control and aquaplaned.’
According to The AA, Aquaplaning – sometimes known as hydroplaning – is when water builds up in front of your tyres faster than the weight of your car can displace it. This forces water below the tyre, creating a layer of water between your tyre and the road.
Speaking today Mr Stanford from Essington, South Staffordshire said: ‘I stayed in the inside lane at 60mph due to the weather conditions.
‘The white Mercedes came past at speed, aquaplaned and careered in front of me hitting the barrier and spreading debris across the 3 lanes and into the front of my car – I narrowly averted hitting her and her flying bonnet.
‘I drive an BMW M3 and went from 60-0 in less than 4 seconds. I reversed onto the hard shoulder with hazards on, the motorway came to a halt due to the debris, I ran to make sure the Mercedes driver was ok to see she was still on her phone.
‘I told her to call the police and she asked why, and said she planned to just drive home.’
West Midlands Police have been contacted for comment.