SURVIVORS of a 'catastrophic' motorway crash are lucky to be alive after a driver drifted to sleep, a court heard.

A judge said Ian Hall and his two passengers escaped death thanks to 'a miracle' after he fell asleep at the wheel on the M40.

The 52-year-old businessman was driving himself and two employees from a job in London when his van veered into a lorry, swerved off the carriageway and ploughed into a tree.

Oxford Crown Court heard how the smash left passenger Ryan Wickens with life-threatening injuries including smashed bones, a bleed to the brain and a hairline skull fracture, while fellow passenger Jamie Hare suffered several broken bones.

Bicester resident Mr Hall was said to be 'heartbroken' by the northbound crash on May 30, 2015, which happened at Tetsworth near Thame.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and faced Judge Maria Lamb for sentencing last Thursday, who said it was an 'exceptional case' that did not merit a prison sentence.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone said witnesses described 'catastrophic damage' after the van drifted from the fast lane into the back of the lorry at about 3pm.

Mr Stone added: "He made no attempt to avoid the crash. There was no braking."

He referred to a report compiled by a sleep expert, who said Mr Hall's 'muddled memory' of the crash suggested he had fallen asleep.

Images released show the mangled remains of the van and debris scattered across the carriageway.

The court heard how Mr Wickens desperately tried to grab the wheel as he realised they were rapidly veering into the middle lane, but blacked out on impact with the lorry.

Defending, Alexander Stein said: "Mr Hall has a great deal of remorse - he is truly, absolutely heartbroken and extremely sorry.

"He is doing everything he can to make it better."

He told the court how Mr Hall, of Lerwick Croft, Bicester, turned his life around after struggling with heroin addition as a youngster.

He said Mr Hall worked for 12 years at The Leys Community rehabilitation centre in Yarnton after benefitting from therapy there himself, eventually becoming a director before stepping down.

According to Companies House, he now runs a lighting and furniture company.

Judge Lamb said: "It was a miracle that all three of you escaped with your lives. Both [Mr Wickens and Mr Hare] have been able to return to work.

"Nobody regrets that afternoon as much as you. You have lived with these proceedings hanging over your head for a protracted period of time."

She handed him a community order of 200 hours of unpaid work, a two-year driving ban and ordered him to pay £1,800 in costs.