Man sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving – Hurley

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving in Hurley in Berkshire.

Zbyszko Kienast, aged 40, of Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison following a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday (18/2).

Kienast has also been disqualified from driving for seven years, after release, requiring an extended retest.

Kienast pleaded guilty to one count each of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving at the same hearing.

At around 4.15pm on 3 November 2023, Kienast was driving on the A4130 Henley Road in Hurley from Henley-upon-Thames towards Maidenhead.

He carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuver on a bend in the road, contravening double white lines, where vehicles cannot overtake.

Kienast collided with a white Mercedes, continued driving and collided with a Honda Civic before rolling in the collision and becoming trapped in his own vehicle.

Thames Valley Police, paramedics and fire service attended the scene and Kienast and one of the victims were freed from their vehicles.

A man in the Mercedes and a woman in the Honda, both in their seventies, sustained serious injuries, requiring hospital treatment. However, the woman, Miroslawa Dawidowicz, who was 72-years-old at the time, tragically died in hospital in December 2023.

At the time of collision, Kienast had 286 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, making him three and half times over the drink drive limit.

Kienast also sustained serious injuries, requiring hospital treatment. He was discharged and arrested on 1 February last year. He was charged with a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit on 28 April last year. This charge was withdrawn at court.

He was also charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving on 15 January 2025.

Lead investigating officer Detective Sergeant Edward Crofts, of the Joint Operations Unit Roads Policing’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Zbyszko Kienast had previously been caught and prosecuted for driving with excess alcohol in 2010 and 2020.

“Both of these convictions resulted in a driving disqualification, the second resulted in him having to take both an extended retest in order to regain his licence and a drink drive rehabilitation course.

“Regrettably, Kienast thought he was above the law and made the choice to drive when over three and a half times over the legal limit.

“Not only did he drive when extremely intoxicated, he overtook another vehicle at high speed, crossing the central white lines and colliding with two oncoming vehicles.

“Members of the public stopped and gave first aid to all those involved in the collision and the emergency services were called.

“Even with a guilty plea to both offences, Kienast was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison for his crimes.

“His driving disqualification will continue for seven years after his release from prison.

“Our thoughts remain with the victims in this collision. A family devastated by the loss of Miroslawa Dawidowicz, who was loved and is sorely missed very day.

“A family torn apart by the selfish behaviour of a drink driver. This case highlights the danger of drinking and driving.”

HA