Guilty: Drunk learner who injured 15 in Wakefield bus horror

A LEARNER driver from Poland – allegedly high on a cocktail of drink and drugs before his car ploughed in to a bus – has admitted dangerous driving in Wakefield.
Adrian DuchniakAdrian Duchniak
Adrian Duchniak

Magistrates at Wakefield heard bus driver June Place was among six people seriously injured after the VW Golf Adrian Duchniak was driving at more then 80mph hit the single decker on Doncaster Road at Crofton, Wakefield.

The speedometer on the Golf was stuck at 84mph after the horror crash.

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Speaking via a Polish interpreter, Duchniak, of Warren Avenue, Wakefield, also admitted causing grievous bodily harm to June Place in the incident in the afternoon of November 9 2012.

The prosecution claim 30-year-old Duchniak had drunk enough alcohol to put him more than twice over the legal limit and also had ecstasy and ketamine in his system.

Prosecutor, Karen Medley, said Duchniak had driven through red lights, travelled on the wrong side of the road and had overtaken on blind bends at high speed.

Mrs Medley said Duchniak was involved in three minor collisions before the Golf struck the bus.

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She added: “The inevitable collision resulted in life-threatening injuries to his two passengers and very serious injuries to himself and the bus driver and some of the passengers on the bus. All passengers on the bus had to attend hospital for treatment for various injuries.

“The witnesses who saw the vehicle where the minor collisions took place describe the vehicle doing 50 to 60mph in a 30mph limit and the three occupants laughing as they drove.”

Duchniak gave no indication of pleas to charges of dangerous driving on Barnsley Road, Sparable Lane and Agbrigg Road – all at Wakefield – on November 9 2012. And he gave no indication of pleas to charges of inflicing grievous bodily harm to his car passengers Artur Barszezewski and Mateusz Pietrzak. Duchniak pleaded not guilty to a charge of drink driving. Chairman of the bench Graham Commons granted Duchniak unconditional bail and told him to return to Wakefield Magistrates on July 19 when his case will be committed to Leeds Crown Court.

Ducniak was handed an interim driving ban ahead of sentencing.