After asking his friend to drive his car, a car owner suffered both his legs from the 53mph crash of three cars, he became too drunk and asked for a license.
Razvan Cotuna, 33, suffered catastrophic injuries when 18-year-old Buhus Sorin crashed while driving Cotuna’s blue VW Polo at 1.45pm in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on July 27 last year.
Sorin, now 20, from Wigan, who had not passed his driving test, overtook a line of stationary traffic on the wrong side of the road, jumped a red light and ploughed into a white Mercedes C220, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Cotuna was thrown from his Polo’s passenger seat and his legs were trapped between the open door of the Polo and the telegraph pole. The vehicle then ricocheted along the road, before striking a second car.
One of his legs had to be severed at the scene while the other had to be amputated by doctors at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Razvan Cotuna (pictured), 33 years old, was severely injured when Buhus Sorin, Cotuna’s VW Polo, crashed at 53 MPH in Cotuna’s Blue VW Polo, in Wigan.
Cotuna (who lives in London) had requested a family friend to drive the car as he was too drunk. The court was informed.
According to inquiries, neither Sorin nor Cotuna, who were both wearing flip flops when driving, had their seatbelts on at time of shock collision.
Sorin, a car wash worker claimed later that Cotuna encouraged him to drive in 20 mph zones to “test out” the Polo’s performance.
Cotuna, despite his life-altering injuries, doesn’t blame Sorin for his tragedy. He admitted that it was his. The teenager was at fault, according to the court.
Sorin was sentenced Thursday to 28-month youth custody after he admitted to causing severe injury through dangerous driving. He also had no insurance or licence.
Sorin, who was travelling at speeds of 53mph had passed a stationary line waiting for a set traffic light.
Sorin (pictured), who didn’t have a license, overtook stationary vehicles on the wrong side, ran a red light, and crashed into two cars. Bolton Crown Court heard.
John Kennerley, the prosecutor, stated that he collided with the Mercedes driver’s side, who was traveling through a green signal. The Polo then rotated 180° and flew backwards.
A couple was travelling in a Mercedes and were hit by the Polo. They suffered whiplash and minor bruising.
Cotuna was traveling backwards in the car when he fell off the wheel. The vehicle collided with the pole and Cotuna’s body became trapped between the pole and the door.
Mr Kennerley said: “The collision force removed the passenger doors completely, causing catastrophic injuries to the victims’ legs that had become trapped.
According to witnesses, one of the victims’ legs had been broken by the impact. He was then left lying on the ground.
Sorin was then seen exiting the vehicle after the Polo crashed into a Vauxhall Signia. Sorin was wearing flip-flops that had been damaged in the accident.
The Insignia was not badly damaged in the collision and no passengers travelling in that vehicle were injured, the court heard.
Sorin was ordered by police to undergo drug and alcohol tests. However, both results came back negative. He was later charged but disappeared and returned to his native Romania.
Sorin collided with the driver’s side of the Mercedes, which was travelling through a green light, before crashing into a telegraph pole and flying into a Vauxhall Insignia
Cotuna, then 18, had asked Sorin to drive for him. Sorin had drunk that day, and was too drunk to drive, according to the court.
In September last year, he was arrested again and extradited back into the UK.
Cotuna wanted Sorin to drive Cotuna’s car, as he’d been drinking on that day.
Cotuna was The Manchester Royal Infirmary treated him, but doctors could not save one of his legs. By October, he was released from the hospital and was able to return home.
Now, he is in a wheelchair. Police declined to provide a statement about the accident.
Henry Blackshaw (defense counsel) stated in mitigation that Sorin moved to the UK for work in 2019, and that the victim was close friends with his brother.
Mr Blackshaw said the cause of the crash was the ‘grossly excessive speed’ he was driving at, telling the court that Cotuna had been encouraging Sorin to drive at high speed so he could see the car’s ‘performance’.
Sorin didn’t know the traffic lights were red. He claimed his view was blocked and that he felt ‘distraught’ following the collision. Mr Blackshaw explained to the court.
He continued: ‘He has since been in contact with the unfortunate passenger in the car by a messaging system.
Cotuna’s legs were temporarily stuck between the pole and his door for a while. His one leg was cut at the spot, while his second was amputated by doctors later.
Sorin, (pictured), admitted to causing severe injury through dangerous driving. He also had no insurance or licence. Sorin was sentenced for 28 months of youth custody
“It seems that the victim is not blaming him for the accident. He says that it was his own fault.
“He doesn’t blame the defendant for how it happened.” He realizes that he shouldn’t have allowed the defendant to drive the car.
Sorin was sentenced to 28-months youth custody after he admitted to causing serious injuries by unsafe driving. He also had no insurance or licence.
Sorin was barred from driving for four-years. He will be released upon parole.
Martin Walsh sentencing said to him that you had deliberately chosen not to obey the road rules, and that you were traveling at twice the speed limit.
“The collision resulted in a fatal accident for your passenger. The collision resulted in life-altering injuries.
Greater Manchester Police officer Adam Scott said that Sorin’s recklessness and negligence resulted in him losing all his limbs. He will be terribly affected for the rest his life.
“Sorin’s selfish driving habits put innocent road users at great risk.