Tragedy on the M6: Three-Year-Old Girl Killed in Wrong-Way Crash
A three-year-old girl died in a shocking motorway horror after a driver made a U-turn and sped the wrong way down the M6.
Faye Dawson, from Wallasey, lost her life in the crash on 19 November 2022. The tragedy happened near junction 28 as Faye and her mother, Beth Dawson, were heading home from the 1.
The Deadly Incident Unfolded
79-year-old Terence Unsworth entered the motorway correctly but then made an unexplained, deliberate U-turn. He drove headfirst against traffic down the southbound carriageway’s third lane.
- Two drivers swerved to avoid collision.
- Unsworth’s Porsche smashed head-on into Beth Dawson’s Vauxhall Meriva.
- Faye, sitting in a booster seat in the back, was thrown free and died from multiple injuries.
Both Faye and Unsworth died at the scene.
Inquest: ‘Deliberate but Inexplicable’ Actions
At a Preston inquest, coroner Richard Taylor declared Faye’s death a result of a road traffic collision. He called Unsworth’s move “deliberate but inexplicable,” with no clear motive found.
Investigating officer PC Rachel Carbery told the court:
“He entered the slip road correctly, stopped at the give way lines, indicated, and performed a U-turn. It was a clear and obvious turn in the wrong direction. It was completely impossible for Miss Dawson to avoid that collision.”
The court heard Faye had either moved or slipped out of her seatbelt just moments before the crash. Beth Dawson said:
“I always strapped her in properly and specifically purchased that booster seat for her safety. I would never take any action to put her at risk.”
She recalled seeing two cars ahead move out of the path, but there was no time to react.
Family Heartbreak
Speaking at the inquest, Beth shared her grief:
“My poor babe should have had her whole life ahead of her. To have her life so cruelly snatched away in a moment is something I will never get over. No child should leave this world before their parents.”
“The other person’s actions were inexplicable. It eats away at me and makes it impossible to achieve any kind of justice, closure, or the space to grieve.”
Faye’s grandmother, Sharon Pritchard, said:
“The reason we’re here today is because that man drove the wrong way and killed Faye. None of this would have happened if not for his actions.”
A Life Lost, A Warning for All
A pink banner with Faye’s name and photos adorned the courtroom as loved ones mourned. The little girl was described as a joyful spirit with her whole future stolen in a preventable crash.
This heartbreaking case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving. The family’s ongoing sorrow is a stark reminder to stay vigilant and safe on the roads.
