Cocaine-fuelled father who killed his teenage son in crash after ignoring doctor’s orders not to drive is jailed

Published: 15:21, 5 August 2025 | Updated: 15:29, 5 August 2025

A cocaine-fuelled motorist who ignored medical advice to stop driving before he killed his teenage son has been jailed for 10 years.

Daniel Burba, 31, had an epileptic fit at the wheel of his wife's Peugeot van which swerved off the M6 near Lancaster and hit a tree on April 20.

His son Ryan Morgan, 14, was sat in the front seat at the time of the crash.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, between junctions 34 and 33 southbound near to University Hill.

The youngster died 'in terror' as he tried to gain control of the vehicle moments before the crash, Preston Crown Court heard.

Burba was taken to hospital with 'relatively minor' injuries to his ribs and lacerations.

While he was being treated, a paramedic discovered a small bag of cocaine in Burba's wallet, the court was told.

Blood tests revealed that the defendant was four times above the legal drug-drive limit.

It emerged that Burba, from Morecambe, Lancashire, had been told in October 2014 by his doctor to stop taking cocaine after he suffered a seizure which lasted up to four minutes.

Ryan Morgan, 14, was sat in the front seat at the time of the crash

Daniel Burba, 31, had an epileptic fit at the wheel of his wife's Peugeot van which swerved off the M6 near Lancaster

The provisional licence holder was also advised not to drive.

Burba was given a similar warning in February when he was admitted to hospital after more fits and was also told to inform the DVLA.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, told him: 'You knew that cocaine predisposed you to further fits.

'You were not entitled to drive unsupervised and certainly not on the motorway. You should not have behind the wheel at all

'You chose to drive on a motorway on a busy bank holiday Sunday. You had a passenger in the van and that passenger was your son, a person you should have been protecting and not endangering.

'You knew that taking cocaine made your decision to drive all the more dangerous.

Your driving put many other road users in danger.'

Burba, of Arnside Crescent, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving.

He also admitted driving without a licence and with no insurance.

Judge Altham disqualified him from driving for 14 years and five months.

The scene of the crash after Daniel Burba's van crashed into a tree on the M6 near Lancaster

In an emotional tribute in April, Ryan's family described the 14-year-old boy as 'precious', adding 'there is no one like our Ryan, such a beautiful soul and so far from typical'.

They added: 'Words can't express how much we have loved and cherished him and how much we always will. The most funny, silly, loving, generous boy, who literally could not stop talking.

'He was always making his little sisters giggle or giving them cuddles when they were sad. He made them their bottles and read them stories at bedtime.

'He was such a family lad choosing to stay home with us sometimes when his friends wanted him to go out.

'He tried to put on a laddish attitude but it made us laugh because he was so soft, sensitive, kind and lovely.

'Every time he had pocket money he would go to the shop and buy everyone else treats and forget himself.

'He adored his dad and would stand at the window asking 'when's dad coming back?' every five minutes.

'He would help his dad take off his work boots when his back was gone and ask how his day was.

Traffic came to a standstill on the motorway as emergency services attended the scene

'They loved playing Fortnite and arguing over who got what loot, watching Liverpool and Blackpool FC together, having wrestling matches and father-son talks about his love life.

'He would cuddle his mum and ask if she was OK when she looked stressed saying, "Oh mum, I don't know how you cope with these kids, they're such hard work!"

'He would follow mum around the kitchen when she was trying to do jobs showing her silly videos on YouTube and telling her about every little detail of his day.

'He welcomed so many people into our family life, most of all his big sister Cat who he was so close to.

'Telling tales on her, winding her up, begging her to go to the shop, play Xbox or cards with him, and most importantly having a friend to talk to about everything.

'Our home and our family will be so empty and quiet without him (singing Blackpool FC chants all day and night, making annoying noises to wind us up, or his new craze gangsta rapping).

'We wanted to see him grow and be the beautiful father and loving husband we knew he would have been.

'All we know is that he is in the arms of our saviour Jesus Christ and he is safe with Him now.

We will see him again one day and be able to hold him ourselves.

The crash occurred on the M6 between junctions 34 and 33 southbound near to University Hill

'We will be waiting and longing to see him, every day and every moment until then.'

His mum Kim added: 'Ryan Liam was the most perfect precious little boy you would ever see, and he grew to be more beautiful every day.

'He was the most amazing son and brother to Primrose and Summer and we will miss him as long as we live.

'Our hearts have a hole that will never heal, and we can't express enough the devastation this has caused our family.

'We are eternally heartbroken.

RIP our perfect beautiful Ryan Liam.'

References

^ TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER (www.dailymail.co.uk)