A 'SELFISH and irresponsible' drug driver has been jailed after his girlfriend died following a crash on a Hampshire motorway.

Anderson Ward, 39, was driving on the M3 northbound near Winchester when he lost control of his Honda Accord and smashed into the central reservation barrier.

The car spun across the road and stopped sideways and he and his girlfriend of 14 years Marie Hardes tried to get out.

She was hit by a BMW M5 and rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but died a short time later.

A test revealed that Ward had liquid ecstasy in his blood and after a trial he was found guilty of causing death by driving a vehicle while unlicensed, causing death by driving without due care while unfit through drugs, and possession of class B and class C drugs.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Ward suffered minor injuries in the incident on November 10, 2014, and no-one else was hurt.

Ward, of Byrne Street, Powys, Wales, was jailed for six years.

Sergeant Mark Furse, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a collision and a death that could have been prevented.

“Ward got behind the wheel of his car knowing that he had taken drugs despite the obvious dangers and the risk to his own life and the lives of others.

“He showed total disregard for the safety of others and as a result of his irresponsible and selfish actions his girlfriend of 14 years was killed.

“I hope this case will show others just how dangerous driving after taking drugs can be and hopefully will make others think before doing the same.

“It is not worth the risk.

“Our officers are now better equipped than ever to catch those who drive after taking drugs and we will continue to take action against those who persist to ignore the dangers and put lives at risk.”