A driver has been jailed for causing the death of his work colleague after he lost control of his vehicle in a Harpenden road.

Artur Luszczynski, 38, was sentenced to three years in jail for death by dangerous driving after Stanislaw Hajdas, 28, was killed as one of four passengers in Luszczynski’s vehicle when it crashed.

Luszczynski, from Kings Way in Luton, was also disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to undergo an extended driving test on completion of the ban.

The crash happened at around 5am on the B653 Lower Luton Road, Harpenden, on December 19, 2012 while Luszczynski was driving his colleagues to work.

He lost control of his vehicle having overtaken three vehicles prior to a left hand bend. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Three other passengers in Luszczynski’s vehicle also received injuries as a result of the crash and one, who was 10 weeks pregnant, sadly lost her unborn baby.

Mr Hajdas' sister Magdalena paid tribute to her ‘loving brother’, she said: "He was such a loving person. He loved his son very much and was sharing with him every minute he got. They were doing everything together and I know my little nephew misses him tremendously.

"He was my best friend. I could always tell him everything and even if he could not always help me, he was always there for me. We all miss him lot."

On summing up, Judge Bridge stated that this case was "a tragedy from every angle" and that the actions of Luszczynski’s on the morning of the crash had been "wholly inappropriate."

PC Jackie Lister from the Collision Investigation Unit, added: "This was a tragic waste of life, one which could have easily been avoided. Sadly, due to a poor decision one passenger died and another lost her baby. I would like to praise the strength of the three other passengers in the vehicle, who I know were all deeply affected by this collision. I would also like to thank the members of public who stopped to assist at the scene. I hope that Stanislaw’s family and friends can now start to rebuild their lives."