Crown court date for Wisbech driver who caused crash

A Wisbech van driver caused serious injuries to two other drivers when he ploughed into the back of one of their vehicles at high speed.

Mateusz Przybylo, 29, had failed to spot a stationary car waiting and indicating to turn right.

Prosecutor Michael Devaney told King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday that Thomas Hadley’s Mercedes had been about 500 yards ahead.

“The defendant, without slowing or taking any evasive action, collided with the rear of Mr Hadley’s vehicle at around 65 miles per hour,” said Mr Devaney. “Mr Hadley’s vehicle was pushed broadside into the opposite side of the road, into the path of Mr Lane’s Vauxhall Astra. Mr Lane then collided with the nearside of Mr Hadley’s vehicle.”

Przybylo’s Renault Master box van crossed the white lane and collided with another car.

Mr Hadley sustained critical injuries and Quentin Lane was also injured in the crash on the A134 at Whittington Hill in Norfolk. It happened at about 6am on June 6, 2020.

Przybylo, who told police that he just didn’t see Mr Hadley’s car ahead, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

David Barr, mitigating, suggested the crash was caused by a lapse in concentration.

“It’s not the case that he tried to evade or escape any culpability. He left his vehicle to assist others at the scene,” he said, adding that the defendant had checked on the injured’s progress a number of times since the incident.

The King's Lynn bench declined jurisdiction and Przybylo, of Sherwood Avenue, was committed to Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and Przybylo, who had no previous convictions, was given an interim driving ban. He was granted unconditional bail to the next hearing.