Drink-driver flipped car and killed passenger

4 hours ago

Shehnaz KhanWest Midlands

News image — Kosinski's car landed on its roof after crashing on the A46 Evesham bypass

West Mercia Police A photo of the wreck of black BMW car, taken at night. The car is a mangled wreck with the front bar of a crane visible overhead. The car's rear is nearly completely ripped away. — Kosinski's car landed on its roof after crashing on the A46 Evesham bypass

A drink-driver who killed his passenger when he crashed while driving when more than twice the legal alcohol limit has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Mariusz Kosinski, 37, was seen driving in an "aggressive and erratic manner" and "performing multiple dangerous overtakes" when he crashed his BMW on the A46 Evesham bypass, Worcestershire, on 27 July 2024.

His front seat passenger, Pawel Czubacki, 40, from Evesham, died from his injuries at the scene, West Mercia Police said.

At Worcester Crown Court, Kosinski, of Evesham, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving, after he pleaded guilty to the offence last year.

Witnesses described how they heard the loud screeching of tyres on the Twyford Island roundabout, before Kosinski's car drove on to the A46 Evesham Bypass, heading southbound before the crash.

The BMW "overtook many more vehicles" and continued down the centre of the road where he attempted to overtake another car, but lost control while trying to drive around an oncoming vehicle.

The car went into a spin, flipped over and landed on its roof, coming to rest in the grass verge and hedgerow, officers said.

West Mercia Police A police mugshot of a man with a grey jumper. He has short dark hair and a short dark beard. — Mariusz Kosinski, 37, was also banned from driving for 13 years

The force said Kosinski failed a roadside breath test at the scene, recording a measurement of 80mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, with the legal limit at 35mcg.

When his blood was taken some time later, the defendant was also found to have 84 mg per 100ml of alcohol in his blood, with the legal limit 80mg.

The 37-year-old, who pleaded guilty on 28 August, was also banned from driving for 13 years at his sentencing hearing on Friday.

After that time, Kosinski, of St Matthews Close, will need to retake a driving test.

West Mercia Police The upturned remains of the BMW are at the side of the road, with its rear lodged into trees. A lamp-post is just in front of the car, and in the distance a white pick-up truck can be seen on a roundabout where traffic cones can be seen — Police recovered a dashcam from the wreckage of Kosinski's car that they said revealed Kosinski's usual driving style "was risky and dangerous"

A dashcam was also found at the scene and recovered by police which showed some of the defendant's driving.

Det Con Danny Somner said: "No sentencing will every compensate for the sad loss of life here, but we hope it will provide the chance for Pawel's family and friends to begin to move on with their lives now.

"The footage recovered from Kosinski's dashcam showed his usual driving was risky and dangerous, so it is right he is behind bars and has been handed a lengthy ban from the roads."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.