Man whose careless driving caused girlfriend's death passed test weeks before

Kamil Rozynek, 24, had only passed his test weeks before the two-car collision in May 2015 which claimed the life of 21-year-old Kinga Pelc.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the exact reasons for the fatal accident on the Annadale Embankment may never be fully established.

But Deputy District Judge Joe Rice told Rozynek the victim’s family had suffered “immense and immeasurable” loss.

He said: “It’s a tragic case, everybody accepts that.

“It came from careless or inconsiderate driving, probably arising from a momentary lapse of attention.”

Rozynek, of Beechmount Avenue in the city, was behind the wheel of a Renault Megane which crashed into a four-wheel drive vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

Ms Pelc, a Polish national who had been living in Belfast, had been a front seat passenger in his car.

She was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital, but died later from her injuries.

Rozynek was also knocked unconscious, as well as suffering a broken leg and trauma.

A woman and her adult daughter who had been in the other vehicle also received hospital treatment.

Engineering experts who examined the scene were unable to provide an explanation for Rozynek’s sudden loss of control.

Prosecution counsel Natalie Pinkerton said Rozynek told police he couldn’t recall what had happened in the lead up to the crash.

But earlier this year he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

It emerged in court that he had passed his test two weeks before the accident.

As the victim’s mother listened in court, a defence barrister offered Rozynek’s “genuine, sincere and heartfelt apologies” to her family.

Chris Sherrard said: “He’s very conscious of the fact there’s nothing he can do or say to bring back the deceased.

“It’s a tragic, tragic incident.”

Submitting that his client poses no risk of harm to the public, Mr Sherrard contended that the case was in the bottom category of the relevant offending.

Now a married father-of-two, Rozynek works as a production operative in Belfast.

Judge Rice agreed that his level of culpability was on the “low side”, but acknowledged the suffering and consequences for Ms Pelc’s family.

Rozynek was banned from driving for 18 months.