A YOUNG father caused a fatal crash in Southbourne after being on the road for more than 40 hours.

Rafal Seniuk, 21, had just 20 minutes’ experience of driving in the UK before he was tasked with transporting workers between Poland and England and back again for Polish company Speed Bus.

He and a co-driver left Poland at 4am on Friday, August 19 this year, travelling through Europe for around 14 hours before arriving at Calais and then on to the UK.

The two drivers swapped shifts every three to four hours, although the converted Mercedes Sprinter van stopped for a short break only once at a services in Cornwall.

Shortly before 1am on Sunday, August 21, Seniuk was behind the wheel when the van failed to stop at the junction of Parkwood Road and Southbourne Road.

The vehicle hit a Honda Jazz being driven by Wahid Choudhury and overturned, skidding along the road surface for around 15 metres.

Passenger Krzystof Krafczyk, 31, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown through a window and crushed to death as the van toppled over.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, said: “Mr Krafczyk was ejected from his seat out of the window and trapped between the road surface and the van.

“He died very quickly of a colossal head injury.”

Seniuk did not have drugs or alcohol in his system and was not impaired at the time of the crash, Ms Maylin said.

A witness who works for pizza chain Domino’s reported seeing the van travelling at an estimated speed of 40 miles per hour in the moments before the collision.

However, prosecutors were not able to prove that excess speed was a factor.

A sign in Parkwood Road to show drivers that a junction is approaching was poorly illuminated and partially obscured by a hedge, while worn road markings may have been difficult to see in the dark, Ms Maylin said.

Seniuk, who passed his driving test in 2014, had been employed with Speed Bus for three months.

He had travelled to the UK with the company on four occasions, but had previously only driven the van in England for around 20 minutes.

After his arrest, Seniuk was bailed on the condition that he remain at his father-in-law’s address in Laburnam Grove, Hounslow, London.

Mitigating, Rufus Taylor said the defendant is “really distraught and remorseful”.

“He has got a baby son who was born in September,” Mr Taylor said.

“He was not there for the birth and he has never seen him. He is desperate to return home to his family.”

Judge Jonathan Fuller said: “The vehicle was on the road for 44 hours by the time this accident took place.

“It should not be seen as 44 hours non-stop driving because it wasn’t.”

However, he added: “No doubt the fatigue and the long journey would have in part contributed to your inability to read the situation properly as you approached the junction.”

He also criticised Speed Bus.

“In my view, your employers are partly to blame for putting such an inexperienced driver behind the wheel and [expecting him to drive] for such a prolonged period,” he said.

Seniuk, who admitted a single charge of causing death by careless driving, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for two years.

He is also disqualified from driving in the UK for three years and his licence was endorsed.

Speaking after the case, PC Kevin Farenden said: “I would like to remind motorists not to become complacent when travelling on unfamiliar roads either within the country or when abroad.

“Traffic signs are there for a reason and I would urge people to ensure that they remain aware of the potential dangers that exist around each corner.”