Extradition documents reveal US soldier Isaac Calderon admitted to vaping before crash that left UK nurse unable to walk
A US soldier who escaped the UK following a collision that resulted in a nurse being unable to walk has confessed to vaping before the accident.
Isaac Calderon, 23, also admitted that his driving was “definitely not safe” before the crash that caused Elizabeth Donowho to suffer fractures in both ankles, sternum, and hand.
Court documents filed in Texas as part of an extradition request reveal that when shown dashcam footage by West Mercia Police, Mr. Calderon responded with “Shit.”
He later asked an officer to convey his sincere apologies to Ms. Donowho, mentioning that he had been “vaping in the car”.
Nurse Elizabeth Donowho. Pic: PA
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Calderon’s employer remain unclear, as Ms. Donowho was informed by police that he had been seen at the British special forces base (SAS) in Herefordshire at the time of the accident last summer.
The documents include a copy of Mr. Calderon’s US “Uniformed Services” identification card, but he stated that he was traveling for “personal activities” during the crash.
Multiple witnesses reported seeing him overtaking several vehicles at high speed before the collision on the A4103 at Shucknall in Herefordshire on 31 July the previous year.
He failed to appear in court in Kidderminster in November on charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, leading to a warrant for his arrest in December, although he had already returned to the US.
Some of Mrs Donowho’s injuries after the crash
Located at parents’ residence in Texas
Sky News discovered him at his parents’ home in Humble, Texas. His father, Manuel, claimed he had a work visa in the UK where he worked at a warehouse, downplaying the situation.
He is currently considered a “fugitive,” with similarities drawn to the case of Anne Sacoolas, the US intelligence officer who departed the UK after causing the death of teenager Harry Dunn in a 2019 crash in Northamptonshire.
On a GoFundMe page aiming to raise funds for legal expenses, his son’s work in the UK as a contractor “due to his security clearance with the Texas National Guard” was mentioned. They stated that the FBI had contacted them regarding potential extradition.
Mr Calderon’s parents’ house in Humble, Texas
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Isaac Calderon was arrested last week in the US and, according to the court documents, he was “not at all” familiar with British road markings and traffic directions.
He did not understand the significance of solid white lines indicating no passing zones, and he was driving a manual vehicle without prior experience.
He is scheduled to appear before a judge in Houston, Texas, on Friday.
Radd Seiger, who assisted Harry Dunn’s family in their pursuit of justice, is advising Elizabeth Donowho and stated, “It is crucial to remember that Mr. Calderon is innocent until proven guilty and entitled to a fair trial, which he will receive upon his return to the UK.
“Nevertheless, it has been nearly a year since Elizabeth sustained life-altering injuries in this accident, and she hopes for a swift resolution to Mr. Calderon’s extradition”.
