His selfish and reckless decision on the M62 was 'simply beyond belief'

A man killed his ex-girlfriend by yanking on the handbrake of her Audi as she drove along the M62 motorway.

Gary Toomey, from Bolton, said he made the 'selfish and reckless' decision after he 'had this feeling in his gut and it just exploded' during an argument in the car, the Liverpool Echo reports. His actions were described in court as being 'simply beyond belief'.

The court heard how after he pulled the handbrake, the Audi being driven by his 'on-off' partner Victoria Bell smashed into the central reservation. Ms Bell was able to get out of the vehicle, but as she tried to cross the carriageway to safety, she was struck by a Mercedes.

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Tragically, the 34-year-old died after suffering 'catastrophic injuries'. Toomey has now been jailed after he admitted manslaughter.

Yesterday (August 1), Liverpool Crown Court heard how the crash happened as Ms Bell had been driving her Audi A3 eastbound on the M62 between junction seven of the motorway at Rainhill and junction eight at Burtonwood, Warrington, at around 11.30pm on September 24, 2021. Toomey, who was a front-seat passenger, pulled on the handbrake.

This caused the car to crash into the central reservation. Although Toomey was able to get out of the vehicle and 'make his way to safety' on a grass verge at the side of the motorway, she was struck by another vehicle as she attempted to cross the carriageway.

Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said: "She was struck by another vehicle which was travelling perfectly properly along the motorway, it not having the opportunity to avoid the collision. She was killed almost instantaneously."

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