A driver has been jailed after speeding at more than twice the limit before causing a crash in Leeds that killed his passenger.

At 6:25am on October 17, 2022, police responded to reports of a crash on the A58 Wetherby Road in Scarcroft.

The incident involved a silver Vauxhall Zafira and a blue Honda CR-V.

Petru Serban, 35, who was a passenger in the Zafira, was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.

A number of other people also required hospital treatment, including the driver of the CR-V - Nicolae Subtirel, 27, from Leeds.

Another passenger in the Zafira, who the second count relates to, suffered several broken bones.

Following the crash police launched an investigation and tracked both cars’ movements on CCTV prior to the incident.

Officers established that the Zafira had been being driven at excessive speed prior to and at the point of the crash.

From investigative work that was carried out it is estimated that the vehicle was being driven at approximately 70MPH, well in excess of the 30MPH speed limit on the road.

Subtirel was arrested and pleaded guilty to causing the death of Petru Serban by dangerous driving and another count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The 27-year-old appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Monday (Apr 13), where he was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment and was also disqualified from driving for nine and a half years.

Detective Constable Chris Todhunter, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “This case demonstrates the very real dangers of speeding and the sadly fatal consequences that it can have.

“In addition to the prison sentence he will now serve, Subritel must live with the knowledge that his actions resulted in the death of his friend and work colleague. Multiple families have been devastated by his choice to speed that morning.

“I hope those involved and the wider public are reassured that Subritel has been held accountable for his actions.”