Woman has suffered life-changing injuries after drunk HGV driver caused horrific crash on Northamptonshire road

Frabciszek Staranowicz, aged 56, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while over the alcohol limit.

The court heard that Staranowicz was driving a Volvo articulated lorry along the A5199 near Creaton shortly before 10pm on February 8 when he veered into the path of a Ford Focus, being driven by a 61-year-old woman.

Vicki Walker, prosecuting, said an investigation by collision specialists had concluded the lorry crossed the white line in the middle of the road by “one and a half metres”.

As a result of the collision the woman’s car was spun round and shunted off the road.

Staranowicz was breathalysed at the scene two hours after the crash and gave officers a reading of 87 microgrammes in 100 millitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Ms Walker said the woman had no memory of the crash and was in a coma for seven days afterwards.

The woman suffered bruising on the brain, a broken breastbone, fractured ribs, damaged spine and fractured pelvis.

Three months after the crash, the woman is still suffering severe memory loss, is in constant pain and cannot walk without the aid of a zimmer frame.

Ms Walker said in police interview, Staranowicz had given a “range of reasons” why his vehicle had veered across the road.

She said he told officers he had fallen asleep while driving and then said he had suffered a coughing fit.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction in the case. Staranowicz, of Kunawina in Poland, will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court next month.