Farnborough man jailed over "horrific" Surrey crash which paralysed builder

A drink driver, who also had cocaine in his system, has been jailed for three years over a crash in Surrey which left a man paralysed from the chest down.

Alexandru Ifteni, of Aldwick Close in Farnborough, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving over the collision involving two vans in Betchworth in April last year.

The 33-year-old, who was also without a valid licence, has been disqualified from driving for six and a half years.

Officers were called to Pebble Hill Road in Betchworth on Thursday, 9 April 2020 at around 5pm following a serious collision involving two vehicles.

Ifteni had been driving a white van down Pebble Hill Road on his way home from work when he collided with another small van which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The other driver had to be removed from his vehicle by Surrey Fire and Rescue before being rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Enquiries following the collision revealed that Ifteni was driving without a valid licence. He was taken to hospital to be treated for a broken arm and a dislocated knee. Further blood tests revealed that Ifteni was over the legal drink driving limit and had cocaine in his system.

Stuart Bonner from Surrey Police said: “The injuries which the victim sustained in this collision were horrific.

“He has been left paralysed from the chest down and as a self-employed builder is no longer able to work.

“Ifteni put lives at risk by getting behind the wheel that day without a valid licence and whilst being over the legal limit. Anyone driving dangerously especially with alcohol and drugs in their system should be aware of the serious life-changing implications their selfish actions may have.”

Ifteni appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (28 May), where he was sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from driving for 78 months.