US man extradited to UK admits causing crash

A US man extradited to the UK more than a year after a crash in Herefordshire has pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Elizabeth Donowho, 57, from Malvern, said she was left unable to walk for six weeks after being hit by Isac Calderon on the A4103 near Shucknall in July 2023.

Calderon left the UK on a commercial flight to Texas on 25 November ahead of a scheduled UK court hearing the following month.

The 23-year-old, from Humble, in Texas, also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Ms Donowho suffered multiple fractures in the crash, including breaks in both ankles, her right hand and sternum.

Her lawyer Radd Seiger said the court appearance represented "a historic moment" as the US government was known for being "highly reluctant to extradite their own nationals when they are accused of crimes abroad".

He added: "We have had to move heaven and earth to make that happen and frankly it is a minor miracle to see the defendant back in our jurisdiction."

Last month the US Department of Justice said officers from West Mercia Police could come and collect Calderon.

Mr Seiger welcomed the news at the time, and said Ms Donowho had been left with life-changing injuries.

He described it as a "very violent car crash" and one that his client survived "by the skin of her teeth".

The case has drawn comparisons with that of motorcyclist Harry Dunn, who died after his bike was hit by a car driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas in August 2019.

Sacoolas was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US government, but eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was sentenced via video-link from the US.

West Mercia police faced criticism for its handling of the Calderon case, after the suspect fled the UK despite being labelled a potential "flight risk".

Although the force initially defended its performance in a letter to Ms Donowho, Tony Morriss, the deputy chief executive for its Police and Crime Commissioner's office, questioned that.

In May, he said: "I am of the view that most reasonably minded people, if they knew the circumstances of this case, would find that the response of the force in this case was not acceptable."

He also stated at the time he did not agree with the decision not to arrest the suspect at the time of the crash, although West Mercia Police said this was due to him needing hospital treatment.

In a statement on Thursday, the force said it did not have "a general power" to seize his passport and "the criteria to do so was not met at the time".

"After he left the country, extensive enquiries were carried out which has resulted in his court appearance and plea today," it added.

Calderon is due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on 7 November.

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