The footage of the HGV lorry crashing into slow moving traffic at junction seven was released by West Mercia Police following the conclusion of a trial at Worcester Crown Court on Friday (September 2).
Anthony Mitchell, 63, of Dunston Heath, Stafford, was convicted of careless driving and disqualified from driving for five years. He was also fined £100.
The court heard how at about 1.15am on Saturday, June 20 last year, the DAF HGV lorry Mitchell was driving smashed into slow moving traffic near to the junction on the M5 northbound.
As a result of the crash, a woman and child travelling in a Fiat Bravo were left with life changing injuries after their car was hit by the lorry, forcing it to collide with the rear of another lorry in front.
PC Simon Carpenter of West Mercia Police Central Motorway Police Group said: “The footage highlights the tragic circumstances that driving without due care and attention can have. The after effects of this collision will have a profound and life long impact on all involved.
“Our advice is that if you ever feel tired or unwell, or are having difficulty concentrating, always stop and take a break.
“The court case is a result of a detailed and extensive investigation by officers on Central Motorway Police Group.
“Although no sentence can turn the clock back we hope that this and the footage acts as a deterrent and highlights the devastating effects that driving a vehicle and not paying attention can have,” he added.
