A court heard that Darren Briercliffe, 23, and 29-year-old victim Lee McKenna had been "inseparable mates".
Briercliffe earlier frightened motorists as he weaved between lanes on the M6 at speeds of up to 100mph, as he headed south from Blackpool on the afternoon of June 30.

He touched the central reservation near the Skelmersdale turn-off at junction 27, making his Renault Clio "wiggle from side to side" as he lost control.

But instead of slowing down he sped up and when a car went to move into the outside lane in front of him he tried to draw alongside it –and again hit the central reservation.
The car veered across the motorway onto the embankment and flipped onto its roof.

Mr McKenna died at the scene. Briercliffe smelt of alcohol and a blood test revealed he was more than twice the legal drink drive limit.
Interviewed, he admitted drinking heavily the night before and taking cocaine.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the victim would probably have survived without serious injury if he had worn a seat-belt.
Judge David Hale jailed Briercliffe, a trainee psychiatric nurse, for six years 10 months and banned him from driving for five years.

He said it was tragic for the victim and also for Briercliffe, who had begun getting his life together after earlier offending.
"The courts have to take a very serious view of anyone who drives in this way and kills because the public get very angry at this sort of driving, which has these terrible consequences."

He said he hoped he had seen the impact statement from Mr McKenna's mother "and the terrible effect it is having on her".
Brierclifffe, a father-of-three from Holmrook Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving.

David Williams, defending, said Mr McKenna was going to drive back that day, but on their night out they got separated and Mr McKenna was attacked and slashed twice across the face.

When police brought him back to where he was staying the following morning Briercliffe took fright, and collected the car from where he left it and drove them home.