US motorist departs the UK following a collision that renders a British nurse unable to walk
The UK is contemplating the extradition of an American driver, Issac Calderon, who fled the country after a crash that left British nurse Elizabeth Donowho unable to walk.
The details surrounding Calderon's identity are shrouded in mystery, with reports suggesting he had visited a British special forces base (SAS) near Hereford. Elizabeth Donowho, the victim of the crash, expressed devastation when Calderon, accused of causing injury by dangerous driving, failed to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on December 1, resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant.
In court, Calderon's occupation was listed as an "American soldier," as reported by the Hereford Times. Ms. Donowho, aged 56 from Malvern in Worcestershire, sustained both ankle fractures, a fractured sternum, and a broken hand bone, rendering her unable to walk for six weeks.
The collision occurred on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire on July 31. Ms. Donowho was informed by police that Calderon, based in Cambridgeshire as an American working in the UK, was visiting the SAS. However, West Mercia Police, unaware of any SAS connection, stated Calderon was in the country on a "work visa."
In a statement, the police mentioned their belief that Calderon is currently in the United States, and they are actively working to reach him through formal channels. Preparations for appropriate extradition paperwork are underway to ensure the case can proceed in court.
Ms. Donowho expressed her disappointment at Calderon's failure to appear in court, citing assurances from the police about efforts to secure his presence, referencing the Anne Sacoolas case. Anne Sacoolas, a US spy, claimed diplomatic immunity and left the UK in 2019 after being involved in a crash that killed British teenager Harry Dunn near an RAF base in Northamptonshire.
"It was subsequently confirmed to me that he has been working for the US intelligence services, I think they said secret services." However, a spokesperson for West Mercia Police informed Sky News that they were unaware of any connection to the SAS base in Hereford, though they understood Calderon was in the country on a "work visa." In their statement, they mentioned: "It's believed Mr. Calderon is currently in the United States. "We have been working to reach him both directly and through formal channels and will continue to do so.
"We are preparing appropriate paperwork should we need to request extradition to ensure that the case can be heard in court." Mrs. Donowho expressed her disappointment at the defendant's failure to appear in court, stating, "I've been given this assurance by the police that they'd spoken to British military police, who had spoken to American military police, who had agreed to take all the necessary steps to keep the other driver in this country so that he could attend court. They cited the case of Anne Sacoolas as the reason for this because they realized that the other driver was a flight risk."
