Man jailed for reversing into traffic on M25 and crashing into minibus

Mihai Avram, of High Street, Egham, Surrey, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for three years and eight months at Guildford Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

A Surrey Police spokesman said that Avram was driving a Ford Transit van between junctions 13 and 12 on the M25 near Egham at around 1.25am on October 1 2018 when he stopped on the motorway and reversed in the opposite direction into oncoming traffic in lane one.

He said: "This resulted in a collision between Avram's van and a minibus containing eight passengers returning from an overseas stag party.

"One of the passengers suffered life-threatening injuries and has been left with a life-changing brain injury following the collision.

"The seven other passengers and the minibus driver were also injured following the incident."

The driver of the minibus, 61-year-old Robin Burchell, from Totton, Southampton, Hampshire, pleaded guilty by post to one charge of driving otherwise in accordance with a driving licence and was sentenced at Guildford Magistrates' Court.

He received three points on his licence and has been ordered to pay a £140 fine, as well as a victim surcharge of £30 and £85 in costs.

Sergeant Eddie Ryan said: "Avram's driving could well have cost several people their lives.

"Indeed, a number of people sustained injuries through no fault of their own and one person has been left with a life-changing brain injury.

"Driving dangerously doesn't just threaten the lives of those behind the wheel, it threatens the lives of passengers and innocent bystanders as well.

"We will always work to ensure that those who put the lives of others at risk will face the consequences of their actions."