Woman, 20, sentenced for causing death by careless driving

A 20-year-old woman has been sentenced after she pleaded guilty to causing the death of a man through careless driving.

On the night of October 20, 2022, Faye Adele Neely, of Bosworth Close, Northampton, was driving her silver Renault Clio around the Walter Tull Way roundabout into Edgar Mobbs Way, when she drove the car into a traffic light pole, causing it to fall onto the rider of a privately owned e-scooter.

The rider – Andrzej Strzelec, aged 35 – suffered serious head injuries as a result, and died the next day at University Hospital Coventry.

An investigation carried out by Northamptonshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit found that Neely, who had only just passed her driving test, was driving too fast to safely navigate the roundabout, causing her to clip the kerb and lose control of her car.

At the time of the collision, she had three friends in the car with her – none of whom were wearing seatbelts.

Neely pleaded guilty to the offence of causing death by careless driving at a hearing in July at Northampton Magistrates’ Court. She was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court last week (September 29) to eight months in prison - suspended for two years, 180 hours of unpaid work, and was disqualified from driving for five years.

At sentencing, Andrzej’s sister had her victim personal statement read out which stated: “Andrzej was not only a brother - he was a son, uncle, fiancé and friend to many.

“He was loved and adored by everyone whose lives he touched. He was the most kind and caring and selfless man.

“I speak for everyone in the family when I say that the horrific way that Andrzej was taken from us has left us all completely devastated and heartbroken and it is something that we will never come to terms with.

“The pain we feel every day is indescribable and a future without Andrzej is difficult to comprehend.”

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Lee Norton said: “No sentence will make up for the death of Andrzej Strzelec – he was a much-loved man with everything to look forward to and I know how deeply his family feel his loss.

“The memories his sister has of that night will never go away but I would like to thank her, and her family, for their support throughout our investigation – I know it hasn’t been easy by any means.

“Finally, I want this case to be a lesson to other young drivers. Faye Neely had only just passed her driving test and with three friends in her car, none of whom were wearing seatbelts, drove well beyond her capabilities that night.

“In the wrong hands and if not treated with respect, a car can be lethal. Please remember this every time you get into your vehicle, every time you are tempted to go that little bit faster, every time you think of showing off to friends.

“If you don’t, you too could be responsible for the death of someone as wonderful as Andrzej Strzelec, and the devastation of a family who will never get over their loss.”