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A driver wearing FLIP-FLOPS has been jailed for leaving two of her friends badly hurt in a 90mph M6 smash.

Simone Cunningham was on her way home from a party in Leicester when she swerved across the motorway, crashed into the central reservation and ricocheted down the northbound carriageway.

One of her passengers was thrown from the vehicle, prompting fellow travellers to rush to help and warn other drivers.

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The impact was so big that the hired Vauxhall Corsa’s engine was ripped from the car and smashed into another vehicle.

Cunningham had no insurance and could not remember the accident, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The 24-year-old, of Hednesford Road, Cannock, was jailed for 16 months after admitting two charges of causing injury by dangerous driving.

She was also banned from driving for two years and eight months.

Passing sentence, Judge Avik Mukherjee told her: “You had driven to and from Leicester knowing you were not insured.

“You should not have been on the road.

“Whatever speed you were travelling, it was way too fast.

“You were an inexperienced driver, particularly at that speed.”

The crash happened between junctions five and six, Castle Bromwich to Spaghetti Junction, just before 7.50am on March 15 last year.

Passenger Shanae Hall, 19, who was thrown from the car, suffered damage to her liver and kidneys as well as bleeding to the brain and an injury to her neck.

She was released from hospital on April 5.

Shannune Hylton, aged 22, needed surgery for a perforated bowel, was in hospital for ten days and had to have five weeks off work.

Another driver also suffered whiplash type injuries.

Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said Cunningham undertook two cars before the crash.

One of those drivers put her speed at about 90mph.

Mr Sullivan said: “The Corsa swerved violently across the carriageway into the outside lane and collided with the barrier.

“Cunningham lost control of the vehicle owing to the speed it was travelling at and the violent change in direction.

“It was a violent collision which lead to the car veering to the left, across the carriageway and hitting the barrier on the hard shoulder and then ricocheting down the carriageway.

“It was a hired car and she was wearing flip flops while driving.

“Her passengers were asleep.”

Cunningham gave a positive breath test but was not over the drink-drive limit, the court heard.

Tom Walkling, defending, said: “She is deeply saddened to the point of depression and has had suicidal thoughts as a result of what she has done.

“The two principle victims in this case were her friends and one of them remains a close friend.”