A foreign trucker who drove through a red light at a pedestrian crossing, knocking down and killing a church-going elderly woman, then fled the UK and had to be extradited, a judge heard.
The Polish HGV driver was described by the OAP's son in court as "cowardly" after he fled the country to avoid punishment after being arrested for causing death by dangerous driving.
The judge heard that life-long Kidlington resident Patricia Grace, 74, was a much-loved member of the community and was a church volunteer. She was killed on the pedestrian crossing in Kidlington.
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Dariusz Meczynski, 51, was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting to causing the death of Mrs Grace.
He had been a professional driver for 22 years, the court heard.
Prosecutor Jane Davies said: "On October 20, 2022, at approximately 9.25am there was a road traffic collision on the Oxford Road in Kidlington."
The defendant had been driving since around 5.30am that morning but was appropriately rested and driving within the speed limit, the judge was told.
Mrs Grace was crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing as the defendant approached in a Scania truck - an articulated curtain-sided goods vehicle. He was driving within the 30mph speed limit.
Sitting at Oxford Crown Court, the judge heard that the defendant failed to stop, striking Mrs Grace. The traffic lights were visible from 250m away. Mrs Grace died at the scene of multiple injuries a short time after being hit.
Ms Davies said: "This was an obviously highly dangerous manoeuvre.
"The defendant failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing, coming to rest some nine metres beyond the stop line and it is that aspect of the case which the Crown submits is a highly dangerous manoeuvre.
"There was a lack of attention to driving for what can only be described as a substantial period of time.”
Oliver Grace, Patricia's son, provided a statement talking of the completely avoidable and needless death of his beloved mother.
He added that it was "criminally dangerous driving" and that the defendant was "woefully distracted for a prolonged period of time."
Judge Emma Nott said there was evidence of Meczynski driving HGV's in Europe and he had left the victim's family in emotional stasis for two years.
Peter du Feu, mitigating, said: "To this day he cannot explain how on earth, for a crucial period of 11 seconds, he failed to see the amber light, then the red light and then Patricia Grace as she crossed. He can't explain that.”
The judge said Meczynski, of Miedzyrzec, Podlaski, had passed alcohol, drugs and eyesight tests and there was no evidence of him using or being distracted by devices found in his vehicle.
Meczynski was jailed for three years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving.
He will be subject to a driving disqualification of six years and 10 months.
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About the author
Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government.
He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years.
Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby
