**Man Charged Following High-Speed Police Pursuit of £80,000 Electric Jaguar on Motorway**
A 32-year-old man has been formally charged after a dramatic incident which saw police forced to bring a luxury electric Jaguar to a halt on a busy stretch of the M62. The incident, which unfolded between junctions 11 and 12 on the major north-west motorway, has prompted renewed conversations around safety and reliability in high-end electric vehicles as well as police response tactics when lives are potentially at risk.
The driver, identified as Nathan Owen from Prestatyn, North Wales, claimed he lost control of his Jaguar I-PACE, which has an estimated value of £80,000, after suffering an alleged “electrical fault” that reportedly caused complete brake failure. According to statements made at the time, Mr Owen called emergency services in a state of panic, fearing both for his own life and the safety of other road users as he sped along the motorway corridor connecting Liverpool and Manchester.
The black Jaguar I-PACE was said to have reached speeds in excess of 100mph on the afternoon of 6 March last year, leading police from multiple forces to undertake an urgent and coordinated response. Officers from Merseyside Police and Greater Manchester Police quickly moved to surround the out-of-control vehicle, deploying a box-in manoeuvre as part of what police sources described as a carefully managed operation lasting over half an hour.
Witnesses reported a tense scene as the vehicle was eventually rammed and forced off the highway, after prolonged efforts by motorway police to bring the situation under control. Owen, who reportedly had just finished his first day on the job as a children’s support worker, said he felt entirely helpless and was terrified that the incident would result in serious injury or even loss of life.
Following a thorough investigation spearheaded by Merseyside Police’s roads policing unit, authorities have now confirmed that Nathan Owen faces a string of serious charges. A force spokesperson stated: “We have charged a man following an incident involving a black Jaguar I-PACE car on the M62 in March 2024. Officers were called to assist in safely stopping a vehicle after a 999 call from the driver, who claimed to be unable to brake.”
The charges listed against Owen include dangerous driving, causing a public nuisance, and two counts of fraud by false representation. Details regarding the nature of the alleged fraud have not been disclosed at this stage, as legal proceedings are ongoing.
Mr Owen is scheduled to appear before magistrates to answer these charges on 13 August. The case will undoubtedly attract significant attention, both from those within the motoring community and members of the public concerned about the intersection of new vehicle technologies, driver responsibility, and public safety.
This incident also raises questions regarding modern car safety features and what protocols drivers should follow should they encounter serious technology failures at high speed. Electric vehicles such as the Jaguar I-PACE are often fitted with advanced safety systems designed to mitigate breakdowns, yet this case demonstrates that unforeseen issues can have potentially hazardous results.
Throughout the ordeal, police forces coordinated closely to ensure that other drivers using the M58, M57, and M62 motorways were protected. Road closures caused significant delays, but the incident concluded without injury to the driver or any members of the public. The professional handling by traffic officers in bringing the runaway vehicle to a halt has been formally recognised.
As electric vehicles become increasingly common on British roads, this dramatic episode serves as a potent reminder of the need both for rigorous standards in vehicle software and hardware, and for robust emergency planning by law enforcement and rescue services. The legal process now underway will likely shed further light on how and why this event occurred, and what lessons may be learned for the future.