Although the offender received a great personal loss, the judge also dished out a jail sentence - this might seem to be a bit harsh as youthful joyriders often just get a slapped wrist.
might have been because of the traffic in front of the van, ummmm, if that swerved away at the last moment. Not an excuse, anyone who rams a car in front will normally have committed an offence, but that plus the late hour might explain it.
// but the Mercedes Sprinter van, despite attempts by its driver to take evasive action, hit the car which was projected forward and went into the air and rotated twice before coming to rest //
Brilliant. I am driving my white van in third lane (Not fast lane. It's the overtaking lane). I am behind a larger vehicle and not tailgating it. The vehicle in front swerves into the 2nd lane to avoid stationary obstruction and I am confronted with a vehicle with hazard lights in front which was obscured previously. A very quick glance into nearside mirror and you find another vehicle creeping up behind you in 2nd lane. Cannot deviate from 3rd lane and collision ensues.
The hard shoulder (safe refuge) is there for a purpose. No reason this reckless idiot should not of used it and as stated earlier his passengers should of left the vehicle even on the hard shoulder. Getting lost on a motorway is no excuse to stop anywhere on a motorway to saunter around looking for someone to ask directions.