‘Runaway’ EV driver charged with fraud over 100mph police chase

A driver who claimed his Jaguar I-Pace had run out of control, leaving him racing down the motorway at 100mph has been charged with fraud and dangerous driving.

Nathan Owen made headlines in March 2024 after calling 999 and claiming his Jaguar I-Pace was not responding to his inputs. His call prompted a 30-minute emergency situation on the M58/M57 and M62, which ended when police cars boxed in his vehicle and physically forced it to a halt.

Owen claimed the car had suffered an electrical fault and had “gone rouge”, leaving him speeding at up to 100mph on the roads between Manchester and Liverpool. He told reporters “the car literally just started speeding up…I couldn’t press the brakes”.

In the aftermath of the incident, EV skeptics used the case as an indicator that electric cars were unsafe, despite no evidence that any of the car’s powertrain systems were faulty.

Shortly after the incident on March 6, 2024, police arrested Owen, and have now confirmed he faces four charges, including two of fraud.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We have charged a man following an incident involving a black Jaguar I-Pace car on the M62 in March 2024.

“On the afternoon of Wednesday March 6, officers from the force’s roads policing unit were called to help stop a vehicle safely on the eastbound carriageway after the driver called 999 reporting his vehicle was out of control and he could not brake while travelling on the M58/M57 and M62 motorways.

“Following an extensive investigation, we have charged Nathan Owen, 32, of The Grove, Prestatyn, North Wales, with dangerous driving, causing a public nuisance and two counts of fraud by false representation.”

Owen will appear in court on August 13.