Drink driver spotted undertaking others before smashing car on M62 was almost FOUR times alcohol limit

A drink driver who crashed a damaged car on the M62 was found to be almost four times the alcohol limit, police said.

The shocking incident happened near Junction 20 in Rochdale this afternon.

The Greater Manchester Police Traffic twitter account revealed they were called to deal with a road traffic accident involving a Mazda that had collided with a Honda.

The Mazda driver had been spotted by officers undertaking vehicles before they lost control, hit the barrier then the rear of the Honda.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and using a vehicle in a damaged condition.

Picture posted by police shows a large amount of timber in the Mazda (GMP Traffic)

They provided a breath sample of 122mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres.

The legal limit is 35mg.

Pictures posted by GMP Traffic showed the Mazda with extensive damage to its front end and windscreen, although it was not clear how much of this was caused by the collision.

They also showed the car was carrying a large amount of timber at the time.

The driver is now in custody, police said.

The driver was almost four times over the limit (GMP Traffic)

It comes after GMP have issued repeated warnings about the number of people speeding or flouting driving rules during the lockdown.

Earlier this month, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins slammed drivers for treating the region's largely empty roads like a 'race track' and driving at 'ludicrous' speeds.

He warned that rogue drivers were putting lives at risk.

The Nazda collided with a barrier then the rear end of a Honda, police said (GMP Traffic)

"Please, treat the roads safely because if you are in an accident its tying up NHS resources and it's tying up our resource and it's putting everybody at risk of further infection", Mr Hopkins added.

"I have been seeing this on the roads since the weekend," Mr Hopkins said last week.

"I have asked for more enforcement by Greater Manchester Police Traffic.

"Just because the roads are unusually quiet it's not an excuse to drive like a maniac and put others at risk."

Checkpoints have also been set up across the region, where police are stopping vehicles and asking why they are making their journeys.

Officers have been giving people 'strong advice' to return home, but also have the power to fine people if they feel it is necessary.