Inquest into horror crash on B1077 permanently suspended

Mircea-Mihaita Paraianu died when the Ford KA he was travelling in crashed on the B1077 between Attleborough and Old Buckenham on November 27, 2021. 

The 25-year-old, who worked as a delivery driver but who was a passenger at the time of the collision, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. 

The pair were discovered around 7am, several hours after the crash which happened between 1.30am and 2.41am.  

Mr Paraianu died from his injuries three days later.  

The driver, 23-year-old Ionut Unguureanu, of Queen’s Road, Attleborough, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court in December 2023. 

He had previously admitted causing death by careless driving as well as driving while unlicensed or uninsured. 

Although found to be below the legal limit for drink driving after he provided a sample in hospital, the evidence revealed that he had been drinking whisky in the hours before the crash.    

Jailing him for 18 months, Judge Alice Robinson said: "The driving force behind this offence was you were heavily impaired by the consumption of alcohol.” 

Unguureanu was also disqualified from driving for two years and nine months. 

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Paraianu’s uncle said the family would "never forget the extraordinary and kind person" Mr Paraianu was. 

An inquest into his death was first opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in March 2022. 

During a pre-inquest review at the Norwich-based court on April 29, senior coroner Jacqueline Lake said the matter had been dealt with by the Crown Court. 

On that basis, she did not propose to resume the inquest and permanently suspended it.