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FORMER England football star Paul Merson was arrested yesterday for suspected drink-driving after he cheated death in a motorway smash.
The Sky Sports pundit admits he fell asleep at the wheel of his £40,000 Mercedes before crashing into the central reservation and a lorry.
Merson, 43, was arrested after being given a breath test on the hard shoulder of the M40 shortly after 3am.
He escaped from the 70mph crash yesterday with facial injuries and was taken to hospital where police took blood samples for analysis.
He left hospital with bloodstains on his suit and white shirt. Stitches covered a wound above his left eye.
Merson, who played for England 21 times, told the Mirror: “I fell asleep and just hit the central reservation.
“I banged my head on the windscreen and the car is a write-off. I’m very lucky to have survived.
“I managed to get out by myself and the emergency services were brilliant.
“Now I just want to get home and have some rest.”
A source said: “He had not been wearing a seatbelt and the car spun round at least once before it ploughed into the central reservation.
“He was very fortunate to get out alive. The roadside breath test proved positive and the blood tests have been sent away for analysis.”
Former Arsenal forward Merson had been driving home to Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, from a Children in Need charity gala in Battersea, South London, attended by Sir Terry Wogan.
Twice-married Merson crashed after nodding off near Warwick. His wrecked Mercedes ML350 was taken by a recovery truck to a vehicle compound in Leamington Spa, Warks.
A police spokeswoman said yesterday: “We received a report of an accident on the M40 northbound between J14 and 15 at 3.12am this morning involving a black Mercedes ML350 and a lorry.
“Following a roadside breath test, the 43-year-old male driver of the Mercedes was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol.
“He was taken to Warwick Hospital for treatment to a cut to the head. A blood sample was taken for analysis.”
Dad-of-five Merson was allowed home six hours after being admitted.
The lorry driver, who is in his 50s, suffered whiplash injuries during the crash. He was recovering at home last night after hospital treatment.
Merson, who won five trophies at Arsenal during a glittering career with the North London club, has admitted his life off the field was a “p*****-up mess”. He was addicted to booze and drugs and says he blew £7million at the bookies.
In a book this year he admitted he still gambled and had occasional alcohol relapses but said it was under control.
He said his addiction spiralled in 1998 when he lived with troubled England midfielder Paul Gascoigne while they played for Middlesbrough.
Merson said: “We were the original screwed up couple.
“It was like a time-bomb waiting to go off – but it was a laugh.
“Gaz was an alcoholic and a nutter. I was an alcoholic and a compulsive gambler with a history of Class A drugs.”
