115mph driver ignored police sirens because he needed the toilet

An elderly driver raced down the M55 at speeds of more than 115mph and ignored the flashing lights of a chasing police car '“ because he was desperate for the toilet.
The Hyundai which according to police reached speeds of more than 115mphThe Hyundai which according to police reached speeds of more than 115mph
The Hyundai which according to police reached speeds of more than 115mph

The man, who police say was in his 70s, was seen tearing down the motorway in his Hyundai before pulling into Tesco supermarket at Clifton Retail Park to use the loo.

He told police he saw their flashing lights but didn’t stop because he was so desperate to spend a penny.

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But his decision will now likely cost him much more – and possibly his licence – after he was hit with a summons for speeding offences.

Bemused officers with Lancs Road Police tweeted after the incident: “Car doing over 115mph on the M55 and then refused to stop for the Police as the driver needed the toilet.#Team3Rpu.”

They published a picture of the car parked up in Tesco.

A Lancashire Police spokesman could not confirm today whether the man, who has not been named, was allowed to use the toilet before he was collared by police.

A spokesman said: “A patrol car came on to the M55 at junction 3 and saw the Hyundai in the outside lane at high speed driving towards Blackpool. We followed him and signalled for him to stop at junction four.

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“He didn’t stop – but didn’t speed off either – and turned towards Tesco.

“We again signalled for him to stop and caught up with him at the retail park.

“A man in his 70s has now been reported for summons for speeding offences.

“He told us he knew we were there but was desperate for the toilet so didn’t stop.”

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In a notorious case, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was been found not guilty of illegally driving on a motorway hard shoulder after he told a court he was rushing to get to a lavatory.

Magistrates agreed with the Manchester United manager’s defence that it was an “emergency,” and they cleared the 57-year-old.

Bury Magistrates Court had been told that Sir Alex had been suffering from severe diarrhoea when the incident took place in February 1999 on the M602, in Eccles, Greater Manchester.