Jail for trucker who killed car passenger and fled abroad

Fethi Kavas was extradited from Bulgaria back to the UK in February this year after a red notice was issued by Interpol for his arrest in 2023.

The 64-year-old HGV driver fled to Turkey in 2018 after a collision where he drove his vehicle into the back of two stationary cars on the M1 southbound just before junction 17.

David Levett, a 53-year-old vulnerable man, was a passenger in the back of one of the cars. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries just under a month later.

Northamptonshire police said a 45-year-old man also suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision.

Kavas was arrested at the scene but he later travelled to Turkey as the investigation progressed and never came back to answer to the charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court, he was sentenced to four years and four months in prison.

In her victim impact statement, Levett’s sister said: “In this six-year period, we have felt in limbo as there has been no closure for us as a family regarding the tragic passing of David.

“Sadly, our father passed away in February 2021, without having any closure regarding the outcome of the case.

“My father loved David very much and missed him every day.

“My mother, who is now 80, has had to live with the passing of her son David, and then her husband, and both have had a big impact on her mental wellbeing.”

Lead investigator detective sergeant Janette Maitland said: “No sentence will make up for the loss of David Levett. He was a much-loved brother and son, and six years on, the pain of his passing is still at the forefront of his loved ones’ minds.

“Their loss has been compounded by the time it has taken to get Fethi Kavas back to the UK and see him brought to justice. I am pleased that we have managed to do that, and I hope the conclusion of this case allows the family to feel some sense of closure.”