A man caused serious injury to a woman after he smashed into her vehicle while driving the wrong way down the M62.

And it emerged that Jaroslav Balaz had been drinking before he got behind the wheel and caused the head-on smash which left Holmfirth woman Sharon Kaye needing surgery for injuries to her spine.

Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard how panicked drivers called police as they witnessed Balaz heading eastbound along the westbound carriageway.

The 37-year-old had moments earlier left Hartshead Service Station by the entry slip road after stopping there to take a nap.

He pleaded guilty to charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance and drink-driving.

The incident happened at just after 9pm on October 14.

Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said that the motorists were forced to take evasive action as Balaz’s Vauxhall Zafira headed towards them.

She said: “He continued for some way on the motorway, eventually colliding with the lady who was injured.

“It was a high-speed head-on collision and she suffered serious injuries to her spine and had to have a full-day operation.”

Mrs Kaye, 40, had to be freed from her car by fire crews.

She also suffered from a broken arm and ribs as well as the psychological impact of the crash and medical intervention she has received since.

Mrs Jones added: “The prognosis initially was not very good and the crash was considered to be a possible fatal.

“The injuries were described as similar to grievous bodily harm”.

The court was told that Mrs Kaye is recovering better than expected, although her long-term prognosis is still unclear.

Scene on M62 on evening of 14/10/14 after a man driving a Vauxall Zafira drove the wrong way down the westbound carriageway after leaving Hartshead Services causing a crash which closed the motorway

The westbound section of the motorway between junctions 25 and 26 was closed for hours following the smash.

Balaz, a Slovakia national, admitted that he had been drinking the night before and had a drink at breakfast time before the incident.

Tests showed that he had 110 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The legal limit is 80 milligrammes.

Balaz’s solicitor Mark Mangano said that his parents, who lived in Kent, had at the time been evicted by their landlord.

He had left his home in Hastings Terrace, Bradford , to travel to see them.

Mr Mangano said: “He thought he’d gone towards the service station on the way to the M1 but he was on his way to Huddersfield.

“He went to have a sleep there before embarking on his journey.

“When he’s come to after sleeping he went the wrong way and he accepts he drove on the wrong carriageway for some distance.”

District Judge Michael Fanning committed Balaz to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing.

This will take place on March 23 and he was banned from driving in the interim.