Man pleads guilty following fatal five-car crash that killed van driver

A man has admitted responsibility following the death of a van driver and serious injury to another man involved in a five-vehicle crash.

James Porter, 22, was charged with causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving[1] after Marcin Zablotny, 37, died at the scene of the crash on the A1122 on the outskirts of Downham Market.

Marcin Zablotny (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) He has also been charged with causing serious injury to Leigh Carter during the same incident, which involved three cars, a lorry and a van.

Police at the fatal crash site on the A1122 in 2023 (Image: Newsquest) Porter of Church Drove, Outwell, will be sentenced on October 9 after he pleaded guilty to the offences involving the driving of his Vauxhall car at Norwich Crown Court[2] earlier this month.

As previously reported, emergency services were called to the scene following the five vehicle crash at 6.36am on January 18 last year[3].

Police at the fatal crash site in January last year (Image: Newsquest) One person was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge by air ambulance.

The fatal crash came amid a spate of crashes across the region during just a few days.

It  prompted a warning from police to take extra care on the roads during the cold snap which created hazardous driving conditions even on gritted roads.

References

  1. ^ charged with causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving (www.edp24.co.uk)
  2. ^ Norwich Crown Court (www.edp24.co.uk)
  3. ^ following the five vehicle crash at 6.36am on January 18 last year (www.edp24.co.uk)