Police have labelled a disqualified driver whose dangerous driving lead to the death of a woman on the M40 as "stupid, reckless and selfish".

Akashdeep Singh has been sent to prison for seven years and eight months after the crash on the M40 between junctions 11 (Banbury) and 12 (Gaydon) last September.

The 24-year-old fled across a field after the six-vehicle pile up on Saturday 28 September, but was sentenced this week.

Singh, of Twydale Avenue in Oldbury, had been disqualified from driving only two days before the incident. 

There had already been a collision on that stretch of road and other vehicles had slowed right down to avoid the hazard.

Despite having ample warning, Singh did not slow down and he crashed into the back of a Hyundai with such force that it collided with a large Mercedes van and pushed it out of the way.

An off-duty paramedic assisted, finding the man driving the Hyundai was seriously injured while, sadly, a woman in the passenger seat was dead.

Singh - whose van doors had been jammed shut in the crash - climbed out of the window and fled across fields.

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DC Sam Bates of the Collision Investigation Unit said: "We welcome this sentence. It has been harrowing to see the devastation that Singh's irresponsible, selfish actions have caused.

"A family now has to spend the rest of their lives without a beloved mother, wife and sister.

"Fleeing the scene of collision that he caused made his actions even more appalling.

"I hope this serves as a reminder to all that we are each responsible for each other's safety on the roads. And that stupid, reckless and selfish behaviour has devastating consequences."

Warwickshire launched an appeal to find Singh and he handed himself in. 

He was then charged with:

- Causing death by dangerous driving

- Causing serious injury by dangerous driving

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- Causing death by driving whilst disqualified

- Causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified

- Causing death by driving a vehicle – driver unlicensed /uninsured

And at Warwick Crown Court on March 31, he was jailed for seven years and eight months.