US man pleads guilty after crash left woman unable to walk

Issac Calderon, of Chapel Court, Peterborough, appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 10, following his extradition from the US.

Calderon admitted causing serious injury by driving a Honda Accord dangerously on July 31 last year.

Elizabeth Donowho, from Malvern, suffered multiple fractures in the smash, including both ankles, her sternum and her right hand.

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She said these injuries left her unable to walk for six weeks after the crash.

Calderon, who was 22 at the time of the incident, left on a commercial flight to Texas on November 25 ahead of his scheduled hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court, which was meant to go ahead in December.

He was arrested in July, almost a year after the incident.

He then appeared in court in Texas and was extradited to the UK.

Calderon is due to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday, November 7 for sentencing and has been remanded in custody until then.

Kate Leonard, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s extradition unit, said: “We worked closely with the US authorities to ensure our extradition request was progressed expeditiously through the American courts.”

In a short statement following the guilty plea, Radd Seiger, a spokesman for Ms Donowho, said: “Today’s hearing in court represents a historic moment.

“We all know that the American government is highly reluctant to extradite their own nationals when they are accused of crimes abroad.

“Once again, we have had to move heaven and earth to make that happen and frankly it is a minor miracle to see the defendant back in our jurisdiction.

“Elizabeth is pleased that the defendant pleaded guilty at the hearing.

“That said, the defendant is entitled to a fair sentencing hearing at Worcester Crown Court, which he will get.”