A Rangiora teenager who crashed a car on West Coast road in March this year, killing one of his passengers, has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death.
At the Westport District Court yesterday, Dylan Paul Boustridge (17) also pleaded guilty to three charges of careless driving causing injury, and one charge of driving on a suspended licence.
Police prosecutor Kathy Pomfrett said Boustridge was driving himself and four friends around Westport on March 2.
In the afternoon, Boustridge and his friends decided to drive out to Tauranga Bay, as they were considering going for a swim, she said.
Boustridge was trying to adjust the car's phone charger while at the same time, negotiate a sweeping right-hand bend on Tauranga Bay Rd. He lost control, and the car slid across the road and then down a bank, where it came to a stop on its side, she said.
Danny O'Donnell (19), of Waiau, died at the scene. He was a backseat passenger.
One of the other passengers suffered a severely broken leg, while the others sustained minor injuries.
The Subaru Legacy had a current warrant of fitness, Ms Pomfrett told the court.
Boustridge's licence had been suspended two days earlier and he was a learner driver.
Crash investigators placed the car's speed on or near 124kmh as it entered the corner, and near 113kmh at the time Boustridge lost control.
There were no contributing environmental factors. After the accident, Boustridge told police he thought he was travelling at 80kmh, she said.
Judge Christopher Somerville convicted Boustridge on all charges and remanded him on bail for sentencing on August 27.
- Westport News
