AN AMERICAN soldier has failed to turn up at court after being accused of a dangerous driving charge.

Issac Calderon has been charged with causing injury by dangerous driving in Herefordshire.

The prosecution said that the soldier, Issac Calderon, who was listed to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates Court today (December 1), may have left the UK. A first instance warrant has been issued after he did not attend the hearing.

22-year-old Calderon is charged with causing injury by dangerous driving at Shucknall in Herefordshire. He had been driving a Honda Accord on the A4103 from Pomona Lane to the C1148.

He is accused of causing serious injury to Elizabeth Donowho, who attended today’s hearing and said: “I just feel very concerned that he may have returned to the States.”

The judge responded: “There was nothing stopping him going before because he wasn’t on bail, but there is now.”

The first instance warrant issued by the court means that Calderon can be arrested by police and would be unable to leave the country via an airport.

“There are treaties between the UK and US that enable extradition if he has gone to the US. Authorities in this country may pursue that,” said the judge.

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Calderon, of Church Street in Peterborough, was originally expected to attend a hearing at Hereford Magistrates Court on November 29, but the listing had been moved to Kidderminster Magistrates Court to be heard before a district judge.

The soldier did not attend this hearing, despite a notice sent by the court on November 21 and dispatched on November 22 saying: “This must be heard before a district judge due to the nature and seriousness of the allegation. You must attend the hearing.”

The judge accepted the notice had been sent but said the charge should not have been dealt with by postal requisition in the first place and said: “Something’s gone wrong.”