Expert Lawyers Help 25-Year-Old Widow Begin To Rebuild Her Life

By Suzanne Rutter

The devastated wife of a hard-working man who was killed in a car crash has spoken of her relief after a guilty plea was recorded on behalf of the driver responsible for her husband’s death and hopes the tragedy raises awareness about the importance of road safety.

Stanislavs Nazarovs, of Carlton Avenue in Sowerby, Thirsk, was killed on 26 October 2010 when the driver of a Honda Civic pulled out to overtake another vehicle and collided head on with his motorbike on the A61 between Skipton-on-Swale and Busby Stoop, near Thirsk.

The 27-year-old, known to his friends and family as Stas, had been married to his wife Elita for just four years when he died and she is still coming to terms with losing her childhood sweetheart.

Christopher Steven Armsby, the driver of the car which hit Stas, appeared at Teesside Crown Court today (19 July 2013) before His Honour Judge Bowers where a guilty plea was recorded for causing death by careless driving. The case was adjourned until 16 August when Armsby is due to be sentenced.

Elita, 25, has instructed expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell as she continues to battle for justice in her husband’s name.

Rachel Di Clemente, from Irwin Mitchell representing her, said: “This is an incredibly sad case in which a young man’s life was taken from him far too early as a result of the careless actions of another road user. Although nothing can bring Stas back, this guilty plea at court is the first step in Elita’s battle for answers about why her husband was killed and will allow her to finally start to come to terms with losing him in such tragic circumstances.

“We hope that this case will be a stark reminder to other motorists who should always be aware that they have other people’s lives in their hands when they are out on the roads. We will now continue to help Elita get the support that she needs in future."

Heartbroken Elita met Stas when she was 17-years-old and at the time of the crash the couple had saved up to buy a new home and were planning to start a family.

With help from the charities Brake and the Widowed and Young Foundation, Elita is now trying to come to terms with her loss. Irwin Mitchell are also supporting her in her campaign to have a memorial erected on the side of the road where Stas died so that he will never be forgotten.

Elita said: “Stas was the love of my life and my childhood sweetheart – we had known each other since he was at college and I was still at school and he used to work on my parent’s farm in the summer so we could spend time together. He was my world and I don’t think I will ever get over losing him like this. We had so many plans for the future.

“I am grateful for the support I have received from my employer, friends, family, the team at Irwin Mitchell and PC John Grainge and TC Chris Graham-Marlow at North Yorkshire Police.

“Stas was an incredibly hard working and kind man and he would regularly do odd jobs for people in the neighbourhood. He was a fantastic husband and we had worked hard to make a life for ourselves, first saving up for a car and then a house which we loved. We were trying for a family when he died and I can’t imagine how I will cope without him”.

“My goal now is to continue to honour Stas’s memory. I hope that in future I’ll be able to have a memorial on the roadside or to plant a tree where he died so that people will never forget him and I also hope his death will remind other motorists to drive as safely as possible to prevent other people going through this heartbreak.”

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