Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Tired’ labourer crashed BMW into motorbike
Rider suffered ‘profound’ injuries in collision
A farm worker who crashed his friend’s BMW into a motorbike at the end of a 12-hour day caused the rider “profound” life-changing injuries. Krasimir Kardashlakov was not insured to drive the car when it collided with Leon Zanre’s green Kawasaki EX650 near Canterbury.
The 32-year-old, originally from Bulgaria, was at the wheel of his friend’s black BMW X5 while turning onto the A257 Wingham Road from Cherville Lane at Bramling shortly before 6pm on July 11 when the collision occurred.
During a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on January
25, it was revealed Mr Zanre sustained a punctured left lung and injuries to his pelvis, knee and shoulder, as well as others. The victim stayed in hospital for five weeks after the incident - which prosecutors say has changed his life forever. Prosecutor Dylan Bradshaw told magistrates: “The defendant failed to exercise the appropriate degree of care when driving his friend’s BMW.
“He merged the BMW into Wingham Road, giving him insufficient time to avoid the rider as the motorbike was already on the carriageway. “Mr Zanre suffered life-changing injuries.
“He spent five weeks in King’s College Hospital and had to undergo various surgeries to repair profound injuries that have changed his life forever.” Kardashlakov, who works as a seasonal labourer, was charged with causing serious injury by careless driving and driving without insurance.
He pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared at
court last week. Magistrates also heard Kardashlakov, who gave an address of New Place Farm in Wingham Lane, Ickham, suffered a lapse in concentration following a day at work.
He is said to have waited correctly at the junction for one vehicle to pass, but then pushed out into the road, causing the crash.
District Judge Justin Barron was told Kardashlakov had been tired and exhausted from working long hours in the heat on the farm, having started that day
between 5am and 6am.
He was also told the visibility at the junction was not the best as there were overgrown hedges obscuring his vision of the route.
However, the plants have since been trimmed back, the court was told.
Despite the defendant’s guilty pleas, Judge Barron said he wanted an update on Mr Zanre’s progress and condition before he sentenced Kardashlakov. “The victim really suffered terrible injuries,” Judge Barron added.
“Mr Zanre had a punctured left lung, pelvic and knee and shoulder injuries and ones he would not want me to mention in court.
“It’s the no insurance which is the aggravating factor here.” The judge ordered an all-options pre-sentencing report be carried out on Kardashlakov, meaning prison time is on the cards.
He will return to the same court for sentencing on the morning of April 13. Kardashlakov was granted bail until then and placed on