Driver fined for speeding through M6 roadworks near Penrith

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 16:08 · Archive

A motorist was fined £368 for driving at 59mph in a 40mph roadworks zone on the M6 near Penrith.

Lucifer Morningstar, 28, was fined £368 for driving at 59mph in a 40mph temporary speed restriction zone on the M6 near Penrith on 11 July. The offence occurred just after 11am as he passed through roadworks between Junctions 39 and 40 near Clifton Bridge.

When notified of the speeding offence, Morningstar accepted he was driving the Vauxhall but rejected the offer of a fixed penalty notice. He asked about a speeding awareness course, telling authorities he could not afford the fixed penalty, and was informed that a course could cost up to £100.

At trial in Carlisle's Rickergate court, the prosecution said Morningstar had told officers he did not realise he was speeding because he had three screaming children in the back of the car.

In his defence, Morningstar said he was travelling to Birmingham to see his partner's grandfather, along with her three children and the family dog. He claimed his partner's medical condition flared up during the journey and that a four-year-old in the rear, who suffers from 'severe travel sickness', began to vomit. After stopping at a service station near the border to clean up the child, they resumed their journey, but he said the child started vomiting again and later began 'choking' as they approached Penrith, causing the other children to scream. Morningstar argued these circumstances amounted to 'duress caused by a medical emergency'.

How it is being reported

• Driver blamed speeding through M6 roadworks on 'screaming kids'M6 driver Lucifer Morningstar blamed screaming children and a medical emergency for doing 59mph in 40mph roadworks near Penrith. He was fined £368.Westmorland Gazette · 9 Oct, 15:35
• Driver blamed speeding through M6 roadworks on 'screaming kids'M6 driver Lucifer Morningstar blamed screaming children and a medical emergency for doing 59mph in 40mph roadworks near Penrith. He was fined £368.NW Evening Mail · 9 Oct, 15:35
• Driver blamed his speeding through M6 roadworks on 'screaming kids' in back of carM6 driver Lucifer Morningstar blamed screaming children and a medical emergency for doing 59mph in 40mph roadworks near Penrith. He was fined £368.News & Star · 8 Oct, 06:06

In this story: Lucifer Morningstar · Carlisle · Penrith · M6 · Birmingham · George Shelley

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