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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Jon Macpherson & Olivia Williams

M6 driver 'deliberately' hit by police after dangerous error

Police deliberately hit an elderly driver after he drove the wrong way on the carriageway of the M6.

Officers were called today to reports of a car driving down south on the northbound carriageway of the motorway near Preston in Lancashire, reports LancsLive.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as the M6 was partially closed.

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Police used a stinger device to deflate the cars tyres as a way of trying to stop the vehicle.

But officers were then forced to make "deliberate tactical contact" with the car to bring it to a stop.

Lancashire Police said the driver of the Aygo, an elderly man, was unhurt but taken to hospital as a precaution.

Officers believe he "may have become disorientated and joined the motorway the wrong way".

The driver of the police vehicle involved in the tactical crash also suffered no injuries.

The northbound carriageway was closed between junctions 31 and 32 at around 5am and fully reopened by 7am.

A police spokesperson said: "We were called at about 4.40am today (Wednesday, February 9th) to reports of a car travelling south on the north bound carriageway of the M6.

"Police patrols attended and stopped the car, a Toyota Aygo, by first using a stinger and then making deliberate tactical contact in order to safely bring the incident to a close.

"The driver of both the Aygo and the police vehicle which made contact were unhurt but the Aygo driver, an elderly man, was taken to hospital as a precaution.

"It is believed the Aygo driver may have become disorientated and joined the motorway the wrong way.

"The motorway was closed northbound for a number of hours while the scene was dealt with."

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