Drunk driver caught on camera moments before piling into police cars at 127 mph

Martin Ralfs came away with minor injuries

Dashcam footage has captured the moment a drunken driver reached speeds of more than 120 miles per hour as he was chased by police.

Martin Ralfs’ "appalling driving" resulted in three police officers being injured and two police cars being written off after he smashed into a roadblock on a motorway in Hampshire.

The crash after the 23-mile pursuit happened in April on the M27.

Police said it was "sheer luck" that nobody was seriously injured or killed due to the 58-year-old’s driving.

He was sentenced to two years behind bars for dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Ralfs came to police attention when he sped past a marked police car at about 90mph on 2 April.

As police drove after him, he reached 127mph.

Police cars tried to block his path using a “tactical containment” but Ralfs did not slow down and crashed into the roadblock.

One of the vehicles spun into the central reservation and the other spun into the carriageway. Both cars lost a rear wheel and suffered extensive damage, police said.

Ralfs came to a stop on the hard shoulder, where he was arrested.

He suffered minor injuries, and the officers suffered whiplash and bruising.

He told officers: "I just want to die. I don't want to be here anymore."

His defense lawyer claimed Ralfs suffered a "mental breakdown" and "ruined his life" after the end of a relationship.

Sergeant Mark Fuse said: “I hope that this sentencing sends a clear message to anyone who thinks that drink-driving or speeding is worth the risk – it is not and the consequences can be fatal.”

Agencies contributed to this report.