Reckless Driver Kills Passenger, Flees Scene
Linda Franklin, 39, lost her life in a hit-and-run horror last August. She was a passenger in a silver Audi A3 driven by 23-year-old David Jankovic cruising Avon Way at around 6pm on Thursday 27 August.
Crash Caused by Speed and Failure to Give Way
As the Audi sped toward the junction with Charles Pell Road, it failed to give way and collided with another vehicle. Horrifyingly, the front passenger door swung open on impact. Linda was thrown from the car and onto the road, right in front of the other vehicle.
Driver Flees, Leaves Passenger to Die
Jankovic didn’t stop. Dashcam footage from the other car showed the Audi door wide open as Jankovic sped off. Police later got a tip-off about a damaged silver Audi abandoned in Davey Close. The driver was nowhere to be found.
Arrest, Conviction, and Jail for Dangerous Driving
- Police traced Jankovic through the car’s registration and phone data placing him at both the crash and abandonment sites.
- He was arrested early the next morning in Sudbury.
- On 23 February at Ipswich Crown Court, Jankovic was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
- He was sentenced to four years and two months behind bars and banned from driving for seven years.
- He must also take an extended driving test before being allowed back on the road.
Detective Constable Martyn Wells said: “David Jankovic’s reckless actions led to the death of Linda Franklin. Not only was his driving dangerous, but after Linda fell out of the vehicle, he didn’t stop to see if she was okay. Instead, he left her to die on the road. He is clearly a danger to other road users and will spend the foreseeable future behind bars. No sentence will ever bring Linda back but I hope this result will help her family move forward.”
