Driver caused head-on crash after only clearing half his frozen windscreen

A driver who failed to clear his icy windscreen and collided head on with another car, leaving the other motorist seriously injured, has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Much of Vlad Pasat's BMW windscreen was frozen as he set off from his home in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, to work following overnight frost.

The 33-year-old began driving with about 50% visibility through the bottom of his windscreen.

He was unable to see where he was on the road as he came around a bend and he ended up over into the path of an oncoming Porsche 911.

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The cars smashed head on, leaving the other driver trapped until he was freed by firefighters and taken to hospital, where he was found to have shattered his femur.

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PC Ian Swales, who investigated, said: “It is almost beyond belief that Pasat decided to set off for work without being able to see in front of him when driving.

“The consequences of his actions left a man with serious injuries but could have been so much worse.

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“This case serves as a reminder for everyone to take those extra minutes to make sure your windscreen is clear before setting off.”

At the scene, Pasat said he was late for work and admitted he hadn't cleared the ice from his windscreen before leaving home.

He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving in December 2018 and pleaded guilty to the offence in December 2020.

He was sentenced to seven months in prison, suspended for 18 months, banned from driving for two years and ordered to complete 175 hours of unpaid work.

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