A three-year-old girl was killed in a horrific crash after a driver made a U-turn and began driving the wrong way down the M6 motorway.

Faye Dawson, from Wallasey, died on 19 November 2022, when 79-year-old Terence Unsworth collided head-on with her mother’s car. The tragedy occurred near junction 28 of the motorway as Faye and her mother, Beth Dawson, were returning home after a trip to see the Blackpool Illuminations.

The Incident

Mr. Unsworth had entered the motorway correctly but, for reasons that remain unknown, made a deliberate U-turn and began driving in the opposite direction along the third lane of the southbound carriageway.

While two cars managed to swerve out of his path, his Porsche collided with Beth Dawson’s Vauxhall Meriva, leaving her three-year-old daughter fatally injured. Faye, who was sitting in the back seat, was thrown from her booster seat and died of multiple injuries.

Mr. Unsworth also died at the scene.

Inquest Findings

At an inquest held in Preston, coroner Richard Taylor ruled Faye’s death as the result of a road traffic collision, describing the driver’s actions as “deliberate but inexplicable.” Despite extensive investigations, no reason was found for Mr. Unsworth’s decision to make the U-turn.

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 inquest heard that Faye had either unintentionally or intentionally moved out of her seatbelt just before the crash. Her mother, 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.”

Beth recalled seeing two vehicles ahead move out of the lane before the crash but said there was no time for her to avoid the collision.

Family Devastation

Speaking at the inquest, Beth Dawson shared her anguish over the loss of her daughter:

“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.”

She added:

“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.”

Grandmother’s Statement

Faye’s grandmother, Sharon Pritchard, also spoke out after the inquest:

“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 Cut Short

A pink banner bearing Faye’s name and photographs was displayed outside the courtroom as family and friends mourned her loss. Faye’s mother described her as a joyful child with her whole future ahead of her, a life tragically ended in an avoidable accident.

The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of reckless decisions on the road. The family continues to grieve, with Faye’s memory serving as a poignant call for vigilance and safety on motorways.