Ion Toader, pictured, was drunk when he ran over a couple on a Tinder date in Willesden, north London killing Ronald Cardenas and leaving Ruxandra Zavionu in a coma
A drunk Mercedes driver, who mowed down a couple on a Tinder date leaving one dead and the other in a coma, has been jailed for six years and eight months.
Ion Toader, 34, downed about seven shots of cherry brandy with an old school friend, had a row with his girlfriend and then ignored pleas not to get behind the wheel on the evening of December 17 last year.
Motorists had to swerve out of the way as he sped for five miles down the road before smashing into a pedestrian island and flipping his car onto his victims as they waited to cross the road.
Self-employed Toader had reached speeds of up to 64mph on the 30mph stretch before the collision on Willesden High Road. The incident was captured on graphic CCTV footage.
Web designer Ronald Cardenas, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene and his date, commercial manager Ruxandra Zavoianu, 28, suffered multiple injuries, the Old Bailey heard.
The pair had met on Tinder a few days before and had arranged to meet for a glass of wine before they were mowed down by Toader.
Ms Zavoianu woke up from a coma a month later and, at first, had no memory of what had happened until gradually, ‘frightening’ images began to surface.
She said in a statement: ‘I could remember a body near me and this was frightening. After a few days I managed to say “was I alone when it happened”?
‘I started to see a body without a head. We just met a few days before on Tinder. Eight months later, I’m still not back to normal. I’m still fighting.’
The court heard Mr Cardenas, from Ecuador, had recently become a father and was working in Carnaby Street before starting to study for a masters degree.
His mother, who was prevented from attending court due to her flights being disrupted by hurricanes, said his death had caused ‘indescribable pain’.
Ronald Cardenas was just two minutes from his home when he was knocked over and killed by Toader on December 17, 2016 on Willesden High Road in north west London
Toader, of Willesden, north London, admitted causing death and serious injury by his dangerous driving and apologised to his victims as he was sentenced.
In a prepared statement, Toader, who has a two-year-old boy, said he took ‘full responsibility’, adding: ‘I wish I could turn back time.’
Judge Philip Katz QC told him: ‘On December 17 last year by your dangerous and drunken driving, you killed Ronald Cardenas and very seriously injured Ruxandra Zavoianu, pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
‘They did nothing whatsoever to contribute to what happened. The fault for what happened is entirely yours.’
He highlighted the devastation of Mr Cardenas’ family and the ‘dreadful impact’ on Ms Zavoianu who had just embarked on a ‘highly promising career’ with an intellectual property firm.
He said: ‘The list of her injuries is horrifying. She is lucky to be alive. She could easily have died too.
‘The harm you have caused is profound. One death and another life massively damaged. Your culpability is at the highest level.’
Toader took the decision to drive while ‘obviously drunk’ and some five hours after the crash, his blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit, the judge said.
Judge Katz jailed Toader for six years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving and three years, concurrent, for causing serious injury.
He also banned Toader from the road for five years.