Courts / Kildare / Report
Taxi driver pulled from car seconds before it went up in flames
Summary
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sergejs Sluncevs, aged 37, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his Audi A4 collided head‑on with a taxi on Dublin Road, Celbridge, on 21 December 2012. Sluncevs had been heavily intoxicated after a Christmas party and, after leaving his keys in his car, decided to drive home. Witnesses described the taxi driver seeing the car approach with full beams, the vehicle swerving onto the taxi's side and crashing. The taxi driver's leg was trapped inside the car; he was rescued by bystanders and later treated for injuries to his leg, arms, ribs and chest. Within thirty seconds of the taxi being pulled from the vehicle, the car caught fire. Sluncevs' defence argued the incident was a "life‑changing mistake" and that he was remorseful, requesting the court consider alternatives to custodial sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Taxi driver pulled from car seconds before it went up in flames. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare on December 21, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 21, 2012 Adjournment
- July 15 Adjournment
- Christmas Other
- 2016-07-04 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare on December 21, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He asked the court to consider alternatives to an immediate custodial sentence based on his previous record, his remorse and co-operation.; Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until July 15 next to allow her consider the case and read a victim impact statement handed into court.
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