In a dramatic high-speed intervention, police officers were forced to ram a runaway van on the M1 motorway after its driver lost consciousness at the wheel. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday afternoon, brought traffic to a standstill and prompted a major emergency response.
High-Speed Drama on the Motorway
The alarming situation began when Thames Valley Police received multiple 999 calls reporting a white Mercedes Sprinter van being driven erratically on the southbound carriageway. Concerned motorists reported the vehicle was swerving across lanes near junction 14 for Milton Keynes.
Officers from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing quickly located the van. Upon pulling alongside, they made a terrifying discovery: the driver was slumped over and appeared to be unconscious. With the vehicle still moving at speed, it became a significant danger to all other road users.
"We received reports of a van being driven erratically on the M1 southbound," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson confirmed. "Officers attended and found the driver unconscious. Due to the immediate danger posed, a tactical contact was made to bring the vehicle to a stop."
Tactical Contact to Avert Disaster
Faced with no safe alternative, a trained police driver executed a tactical contact manoeuvre—commonly referred to as a 'police ram'. The officer carefully used their marked BMW X5 patrol car to make contact with the van, nudging it to a controlled stop on the hard shoulder.
This decisive action prevented a potentially catastrophic collision. Dashcam footage from another motorist's vehicle captured the moment of impact, showing the police car making contact with the van's side.
Following the stop, officers and paramedics rushed to aid the driver. He was treated at the scene by ambulance crews before being transported to hospital for further medical assessment. His current condition has not been disclosed.
Major Traffic Disruption and Investigation
The incident, which occurred at around 3:15 PM on Tuesday, caused severe disruption during the afternoon rush hour. All three southbound lanes were temporarily closed to allow emergency services to work safely, leading to long queues and delays stretching back several miles.
National Highways teams assisted with traffic management as recovery operations took place. The closure lasted for approximately an hour, with congestion slowly easing after the vehicles were recovered and the carriageway fully reopened.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed that an investigation into the full circumstances is ongoing. They emphasised that the use of tactical contact is a last-resort measure only employed to prevent greater harm. "The decision to use tactical contact is never taken lightly," the force stated. "In this instance, it was necessary to protect the unconscious driver and the wider public."
Witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident prior to the police intervention are urged to contact Thames Valley Police, quoting reference number 43240407229.
