Three impatient drivers have been disqualified from driving for a year after they performed u-turns and drove the wrong way up a dual carriageway after police closed the road due to a fatal crash which left three dead.

Officers were called to the A2 Brenley Corner, near Dunkirk, Faversham at about 4.30am on Thursday, January 11 after a black Mercedes hit a parked lorry.

Mohammed Muqtadir, Shahjahan Miah and Nicholas Rodney all died at the scene.

The traffic had to be stopped to allow police, fire, and ambulance crews access the area.

During this time the three motorists who were held in the queueing traffic decided to make a u-turn and travel towards oncoming traffic along the A2 to avoid the delay.

They were each subsequently charged with dangerous driving.

Two of the drivers, 37-year-old Jose Ribeiro and Martin Tighe, 52, appeared before Maidstone Magistrates Court on October 5 and the other, 59-year-old John Casey, appeared before Medway Magistrates Court on September 5.

All three were disqualified from driving for 12 months and will have to pass an extended test in order to regain their licence.

"These motorists performed dangerous manoeuvres that, not only put more lives in danger, but also took away from the resources at the scene..." - PC Kris Hayward

Tighe, from Ireland, was ordered to pay £85 costs, £50 into the victim fund and issued with a fine £500, while Ribeiro from Canterbury was told to pay £85 costs, £60 into the victim fund and fined £600.

Meanwhile, Casey of Dover was ordered to pay £85 costs, £100 into the victim fund and fined £1,000.

Investigating officer PC Kris Hayward said: "The vast majority of the motoring public of Kent are understanding and patient when we have to close a road.

"While we appreciate the frustration caused by being held in traffic, when we close a road, it is for a good reason.

"In this instance we were dealing with a serious situation where life had been lost and the incident required significant police resources.

"These motorists performed dangerous manoeuvres that, not only put more lives in danger, but also took away from the resources at the scene.

"It was not only dangerous but thoughtless and I hope the driving bans issued will act as a warning to others that we will take action against those who just can’t wait when we close a road."