A drink driver who admitted causing a fatal road traffic collision in Bournemouth has been jailed.
Dumitru Radu, aged 27, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday 18 October 2021 after admitting offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the prescribed drink drive limit.
He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison and was also disqualified from driving for three years, with the ban due to begin on his release from prison.
It follows work by officers to secure a First Instance Warrant and a European Arrest Warrant for the defendant when he was believed to have left the country and ensure he was extradited after being arrested in Germany earlier this year so he could face justice in this country’s courts.
The offences related to a three-vehicle collision at around 8.35am on Sunday 26 May 2019 on West Cliff Road involving a Volkswagen Sharan, being driven by the defendant, a Yamaha motorcycle being ridden by 54-year-old Bournemouth man Colin Lazenbury and a Peugeot 307.
It was reported that the Volkswagen failed to stop at the junction with West Overcliff Drive, emerging into the path of the motorcycle and causing it to collide with the Peugeot.
Mr Lazenbury was taken to hospital with critical injuries and very sadly passed away on Sunday 14 July 2019.
Radu was arrested at the scene and a sample of breath taken from him gave a reading of 61 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
He was subsequently released under investigation as officers continued to make further enquiries.
The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges for Radu in December 2019, but information was received that it was believed the defendant, a Moldovan national with a Polish passport, had left the country.
Following enquiries and assistance from the National Crime Agency and International Crime Coordination Centre, a European Arrest Warrant was secured.
Radu was arrested in Germany on Tuesday 1 June 2021 and subsequently extradited to the United Kingdom to appear before the courts.
Sergeant Nikki Burt of the traffic unit, said: “I am pleased that we have finally been able to ensure Dumitru Radu has been held accountable for his offending behaviour on the morning of Sunday 26 May 2019, which has left Mr Lazenbury’s family and loved ones devastated.
“It must have added to their sense of loss knowing the man who was responsible remained at large and I hope this case demonstrates that we will work with partners across international borders to ensure offenders do not escape without punishment.
“This case is yet another sad reminder of the truly awful consequences of someone getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs and we will continue to work to do all we can to make sure those who are responsible face justice.”
The family of Colin Lazenbury has issued the following tribute: “The loss of Colin has been unbearably tragic.
“It is difficult to describe the pain and heartbreak we all continue to feel as a family.
“Colin was a wonderfully big-hearted man, with a zest for life and an infectious sense of humour.
“He was kind, loving, loyal, selfless, caring and had endless patience. He was an absolute joy to be around and we all feel so blessed to have shared his life with him.
“He was always willing to help, there wasn’t much that was too much trouble for him.
“He was a perfectionist, whether it was his work or his home life, he always strived to achieve the very best he could do.
“Colin was passionate about his motorcycles and his rugby. He also loved to chat, he had this amazing ability to adapt to all social situations with ease. There weren’t many local places he could go without someone knowing him. He really was a big beautiful social butterfly.
“Our lives seem so much darker these days and certainly more silent, the love he gave us all is something we will forever hold in our hearts.”
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