Drug-impaired driver admits causing girlfriend’s death on M62

A man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of his girlfriend through dangerous driving while under the influence of ketamine during a motorway incident. The fatal incident, which occurred on the M62 close to Huyton in Merseyside on May 27, 2023, involved a grey Vauxhall Corsa and a silver Mercedes, claiming the life of Kate Swale. Jamie Hughes entered a guilty plea on Tuesday at Liverpool Crown Court, acknowledging responsibility for the death of his 21-year-old girlfriend, who was occupying the front passenger seat of his Corsa, due to dangerous driving. Hughes, aged 23, residing on Belton Road in Huyton, has been held in custody and is scheduled for sentencing at the same court on January 17. This plea change by Hughes follows an initial denial of the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He had earlier confessed to the charge of driving under the influence of drugs. Following Miss Swale’s passing, her family issued a tribute stating they had “idolised” her. They added, “From the moment Kate was born, everyone fell in love with her.”