A Lancashire man has been convicted of multiple offences following a fatal crash on the M6 near Congleton, which killed a young woman travelling to a concert in Manchester.

Daniel Barlow was found guilty of causing a death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following a three-day trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Friday, August 14.

The 30-year-old of Railway Close, Facit, Whitworth, has been bailed to be sentenced on Friday, September 25.

During the trial, the court heard that on the evening of Friday, December 2, 2022, Barlow was driving a white DAF truck on the northbound carriageway of the M6 between junction 16 and 17, after completing a number of deliveries in the Birmingham area.

At the same time, Chloe Williams, 19, was one of two passengers in a grey Volkswagen Polo which was being driven by her partner. The trio were travelling to a concert in Manchester.

As they approached junction 17 for Sandbach and Congleton, the Polo came to a stop in lane one due to heavy traffic.

Barlow was also driving in lane one, but he failed to react to the stationary traffic in time and collided with rear of the VW Polo.

Subsequent analysis showed that he had been travelling at a constant speed of 55mph along the carriageway and did not attempt to stop until 0.25-0.5 seconds before the collision, despite having a clear view of the traffic ahead.

The impact of the collision caused serious injuries to the occupants of the VW Polo, and they were all taken to hospital.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, Chloe later passed away.

The two other occupants of the Polo both sustained a number of serious injuries, including broken legs and a fractured skull. Their injuries have led to life changing consequences for both men, including memory loss and long-lasting pain.

Barlow was arrested following the collision and during questioning he was unable to offer any explanation as to why he didn't slow down prior to the collision.

Following the verdict, Inspector Andrew Dennison of the Cheshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Chloe was a bright young woman who was just about to embark on her dream career with British Airways, but her life was cut short because of the actions of Barlow.

"Our investigation showed that Chloe's death was entirely preventable, Barlow had ample time to react and slow down. However, he was clearly not concentrating on his driving, and his vehicle became a deadly weapon.

"This case demonstrates the importance of ensuring that all road users pay full attention when driving on our roads, as just one lapse really can mean the difference between life and death.

"My thoughts at this time remain with Chloe's family and while nothing will ever bring her back, I hope that the guilty verdict will provide them with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives."