Driver avoids jail for careless driving after two men injured on A43
The following article contains a video of a serious collision which may be distressing to some
A Northampton woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after her careless driving led to serious injuries for two men on the A43.
44 year old Crenguta Aruxandei, of Old Factory Way, received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Northampton Crown Court after she pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
The incident occurred at 8.35am on 10th January, when Aruxandei was travelling in the outside lane of the A43.
As she approached the junction for Hulcote, Aruxandei pulled in front of a green military Land Rover Defender travelling in a convoy on the inside lane.
The driver swerved into the outside lane to avoid Aruxandei's grey Audi Q2, but collided with the central reservation, causing the vehicle to roll multiple times.
The 36-year-old driver was thrown from the Land Rover and suffered a suspected fractured back.
He was taken to the University Hospital Coventry, while his 31-year-old passenger was sent to Northampton General Hospital with a significant head injury.
Aruxandei initially opted for a trial at Northampton Crown Court but changed her plea in February before a jury was sworn in.
In addition to the suspended sentence, she was disqualified from driving for 12 months, required to pass an extended test to regain her licence, and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.
Detective Constable Eleanor Hudson, lead investigator from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, commented following the sentencing:
“Holding a driving licence is a privilege and a responsibility and there is no place on our roads for drivers who put the lives of innocent members of the public at risk.
“This was a completely avoidable collision on our one of our major roads, which has left two other road users seriously injured and I am pleased that Crenguta Aruxandei will not be able to get back behind the wheel without passing an extended test to ensure she is safe to do so.
“Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads remains a priority for Northamptonshire Police and our partners at the Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, and we will continue to take robust action to remove unsafe drivers from our roads.”