AN AMERICAN who drove into a Malvern nurse, leaving her with severe injuries before fleeing the UK has been jailed.

Issac Calderon, 23, tried to escape justice after the crash by flying back to the States but was later extradited.

He was sentenced to 32 months in jail today (Thursday, November 7) at Worcester Crown Court for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

On 31 July 2023, Calderon’s car hit Elizabeth Donowho on the A4103 near Shucknall which left her unable to walk.

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

After initially cooperating with police, Calderon failed to appear in court and fled to the USA. On December 1, 2023, a UK warrant was issued for his arrest.

A request was made by the Crown Prosecution Service for his extradition.

Calderon was arrested by US law enforcement in Texas on July 14 and first appeared before a US court the next day.

He was later extradited back to the UK and pleaded guilty to causing injury by dangerous driving and driving uninsured when he appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on October 10.

Jennifer Winzor of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Issac Calderon tried to escape justice for his action behind the wheel by fleeing the country. We worked closely with the US authorities to make sure our extradition request progressed swiftly so that Calderon was brought back to the UK to face the consequences of his actions.

“Those who commit offences in the UK cannot simply expect to walk away without accountability, and Calderon has now been brought to justice in a UK court where he has been sentenced for his crime.

“I hope that these convictions and the sentence today provides some level of closure for all affected by this case.”

In a statement following last month's guilty plea, Radd Seiger, a spokesman for Ms Donowho, said: “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."