M25 crash: Driver caught on video swerving after space saver tyre bursts

A driver with a space saver tyre has been captured on video losing control and swerving across the M25 before crashing twice.

Jack Doolan undertook a vehicle in the outside lane in his Ford Mondeo between Junctions 21 and 21a at around 7.50pm on December 20 2022.

The 22-year-old was driving at more than 75mph, despite having a space saver tyre, which has a recommended speed limit of below 50mph. He was then caught on camera braking and swerving across to the opposite side of the carriageway, crashing into a Ford Fiesta on the inside lane.

Doolan continued to lose control and veered back across the carriageway before colliding with the concrete central barrier. He failed to stop at the scene before he was arrested by officers.

Doolan, from Temple Close, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop, then was disqualified from driving for two years when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

He was also sentenced to a community order for 12 months in which he must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, he must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £250 in costs.

Chief Inspector Stephen O’Keeffe, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s road policing unit, said: “This incident was completely preventable by driving within the conditions of the road environment and vehicle capability. Space saver tyres are only designed to get you to a safe location, at slower speeds, to get the tyre replaced only. It was a miracle that no-one was seriously hurt as a result of Doolan’s dangerous and reckless behaviour.”

A space saver is a compact spare wheel that is a smaller and lighter than a traditional spare tyre. While they are designed to save space and reduce weight, when compared to a full-size replacement wheel, they have a lower speed limit which is typically below 50mph. Police have asked that anyone who sees a vehicle being driven dangerously, or in a dangerous condition, should call 999, when safe to do so.