The driver of a campervan that collided with a truck on
Thursday, killing his wife, has admitted a charge of careless
driving causing death.
Canadian Michele Smith, 60, died when her husband mistook a
notorious King Country intersection for a roundabout.
Their campervan collided with an oncoming truck at the
turnoff to the Waitomo Caves around 2pm.
The couple, along with their 24-year-old daughter, were on a
month-long holiday in New Zealand and were heading to
Tongariro after a four-hour caving adventure.
A 62-year-old Canadian man appeared in the Hamilton District
Court today.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving causing
death, and will be sentenced this afternoon.
"Speed and alcohol are not considered to have been factors in
the crash and the Serious Crash Unit are working to establish
the prior movements of the campervan prior to the crash,''
said Acting Waikato road policing manager Senior Sergeant
Jeff Penno.
King Country locals told the Herald last week the
intersection, 10km north of Te Kuiti, is notorious for
crashes.
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