A US citizen who fled the UK after a Herefordshire car crash has been jailed.

Issac Calderon appeared at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (November 7) where he was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard how Calderon, who was working for a US company as an interpreter in Peterborough, was travelling to Hereford via the A4103 at Shucknall to see a friend who he had met online. 

The US national was driving a Honda Accord that he had bought only seven days previously, without any insurance.

The court was shown dashcam footage from a van driver that showed the Honda "overtaking vehicles dangerously."  The court also heard that Calderon had previously told the police he was "playing follow the leader" while driving. The crash, which happened as Calderon followed an Audi which was ahead of him, was recorded on front and rear cameras mounted to the van.(Image: PA) NHS nurse Elizabeth Donowho was seriously injured in the crash

Elizabeth Donowho, an NHS nurse who was returning home from her work in Hereford, suffered multiple injuries in the crash, and spent several weeks in hospital. She has said she was unable to walk for six weeks.

The crash left Calderon's Honda on its side in the hedge, with Donowho's Mercedes remaining on the road. Both vehicles were extensively damaged.

The freelance nurse has not returned to work since, due to the mental and physical impact of the crash.

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The court heard that Calderon, who was 22 at the time of the crash, had subsequently lost his job after the company found out about the crash. After this, he was left "homeless" and without any accommodation.

After initially cooperating with police, Calderon failed to appear in court and left the UK on a commercial flight paid for by his former workplace. In December 2023 a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was subsequently extradited to the UK.

The court heard extracts from a letter sent by Calderon to his lawyer, in which he said he was "deeply remorseful"  for the crash, and apologised to Ms Donowho.

Judge Martin Jackson said it was "an appalling piece of driving" and the sort of driving one expects from "arrogant young boy racers".

When giving Calderon a two-year driving ban which will be served after his release, the judge added that he had only had a licence for a year previously, and this therefore made him "an inexperienced driver"  who had not taken the time to learn about the meaning of the solid white lines on the road.