The trial of a man over the death of Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard in a car crash has been adjourned until July 19.
Andy Earl, 42, of Mosgiel has denied one charge of careless driving causing death and one charge of careless driving causing injury over the head-on collision on State Highway 1, 8km north of Oamaru on September 2 2011.
Mr Hubbard died shortly after the crash and his wife Jean, who was driving, was injured.
On the second day of his trial today in District at Timaru, in a police interview video recorded on the day of the accident, Mr Earl said he could remember very little after leaving Oamaru.
"I recall a loud noise and tumbling inside (his vehicle). I think it went upside and back on its wheels but I'm not sure."
Mr Earl said he later asked permission from the attending doctor officers to talk to Mrs Hubbard and said she apologised to him and said it must have been her fault.
Mr Earl said he was taking prescription medication for anxiety, something he had suffered for about five years. He said he was not aware of any side effects other than making people drowsy so he only took them at night. He had taken two tablets the night before the accident but he had never experienced any side effects.
He said he had slept for eight hours the night before the accident, knowing he had a long journey to Nelson.
"I wish I could tell you what happened but I honestly can't remember."
Specialist road crash investigator Senior Constable Alistair Crossan told the court he had undertaken a detailed analysis of the crash site and the vehicles involved.
He said his investigation show the defendant's vehicle had crossed the centre line of the road at a shallow angle and had not slowed before the fatal impact.
He said the two vehicles had met "left head light to left head light" sustaining considerable damage, before rotating away from the point of impact.
Dr Peter Rodwell, who attended the victims of the accident, said Mrs Hubbard had both pre-incident and post-incident memory loss and Mr Earl had only pre-incident memory loss which was very unusual from a head injury.
Dr Rodwell said memory was very complex and that most memories returned. He said lack of incident memory could arise from a head injury or from being asleep.
- by Tom O'Connor
