American driver leaves UK after crash injures nurse

A US citizen "associated with the secret service" has departed the UK despite "assurances" he would not leave following a car crash in Herefordshire that left a nurse unable to walk.

Issac Calderon, 22, was due to appear before magistrates on 1 December.

He is accused of causing Elizabeth Donowho serious injury by dangerous driving.

Police have told Ms Donowho that he was working on matters "that might come under the Official Secrets Act".

A warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.

Ms Donowho, a 56-year-old mental health nurse who was hurt on the A4103 near Shucknall on 31 July, said she felt "really let down" by events earlier this month.

The mother of Harry Dunn - a teenager killed in a crash involving a US citizen who was later afforded diplomatic immunity - said she was in contact with Ms Donowho.

West Mercia Police, which told Ms Donowho of the secret service link, also informed her that an "extradition process" had commenced after Mr Calderon left the country to return to Houston, Texas, on a commercial flight on 25 November.

The force also told her it had received "assurances" from military police that he would not leave the country, but did not confirm the identity of his employer.

He has been described by the US Embassy as a "private citizen". Police said he had been in the UK on a work visa.

During the court hearing, the accused's occupation was given as an American soldier, according to the Hereford Times newspaper.

Ms Donowho, of Malvern, Worcestershire, said she was left unable to walk for six weeks following the crash in which she broke both of her ankles and suffered a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand.

The case follows that of Anne Sacoolas, who was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US government after killing teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn in August 2019 while driving on the wrong side of the road.

Harry Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, said she was "horrified to hear what happened to Elizabeth".

She said "this takes me right back to the weeks following Harry's death", adding: "I am now in close contact with Elizabeth and am giving her all the support I can, as are my team."

In matters relating to Mr Calderon, it is understood there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity. It is also understood police were not advised of his intentions to depart.

He was interviewed by police on 15 August - 15 days after the crash as he had required immediate hospital treatment.

Confirming Mr Calderon's departure, West Mercia Police said: "On Friday 1 December at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Issac Calderon, 22, who is wanted for failure to appear at court on a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

"Mr Calderon is an American citizen who, we understand, was in the UK on a work visa.

"Our inquiries have established that he left the UK on [25 November] and flew to the United States.

"We are engaging with his solicitor to inform him of the warrant and the need for him to return to the UK.

"We have also prepared appropriate paperwork should we need to request extradition, to ensure that the case can be heard in court."

A US Embassy spokeswoman said: "The US Embassy does not comment on law enforcement matters involving private US citizens.

"The US and UK co-ordinate closely on law enforcement matters."

The Home Office said it would neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request had been made until the suspect had been arrested, as a matter of longstanding policy and practice.

Ms Donowho said of her injuries: "I had multiple fractures, which included my sternum, my right hand and both my ankles.

"I had to have surgery on my left ankle which was broken in two places and I couldn't walk for six weeks.

"I had two and a half weeks in hospital and had to rely on the kindness of others to get by."

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