Roger Smart of QEB Hollis Whiteman prosecuted the case of R v Crenguta Aruxandei at Northampton Crown Court, where the defendant was sentenced following a serious road traffic collision which left two British Army personnel with significant physical and psychological injuries.
The case concerned an incident on 10 January 2025 on the A43 in Northamptonshire. The defendant, driving an Audi Q2, made a sudden and unsafe manoeuvre across lanes to take a slip road, cutting directly in front of a military Land Rover travelling as part of a convoy. The Land Rover, which was towing a trailer and travelling at approximately 55mph, swerved to avoid a collision. It subsequently struck the central reservation and rolled multiple times.
Two soldiers sustained serious injuries including a head injury, punctured lung, fractured ribs and spinal fractures, requiring hospital treatment and a prolonged period of recovery.
The court heard detailed evidence of the circumstances of the collision, including eyewitness and dashcam material, which demonstrated that the defendant’s last-minute manoeuvre created an immediate and unavoidable hazard. The Land Rover driver had only a split second to react and made an instinctive attempt to avoid what appeared to be a family vehicle.
The impact of the incident on both victims was significant and long-lasting. Victim personal statements outlined the serious disruption caused to their military careers, daily lives and family relationships, as well as the enduring psychological consequences.
The defendant was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Roger Smart was instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The case has been widely reported by national press:
Roger Smart