Driving ban follows ‘momentary’ lapse

An argument between a mother and son in the car led to the woman’s car  hitting the vehicle in front, causing a spectacular crash in which the victim received spinal injuries.

The victim’s car ended up crashing through shrubs, over a 3m retaining wall and into the side of a house, narrowly missing two LPG cylinders.

The woman behind the wheel suffered a fractured sternum, and sprains to two areas of her spine.

Vanessa Irene Biddle (45) pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury following the May 31 incident.

Counsel Jo Turner said the mother of five had been arguing with her 10-year-old son as she drove east along Kaikorai Valley Rd.

She turned around to speak to him and was momentarily distracted, Ms Turner said.

As Biddle’s attention was diverted, the car in front indicated to turn left into Greenock St.

The victim’s car ploughed through shrubbery and over a retaining wall into a house on Greenock St...
The victim’s car ploughed through shrubbery and over a retaining wall into a house on Greenock St in May. Photo: ODT

She did not see the manoeuvre in progress and ploughed into the right rear corner of the victim’s vehicle, shunting her through the intersection.

"It was all rather spectacular," Judge John Macdonald said.

Ms Turner emphasised  that her client immediately went to assist the other driver, whose car was on its side next to a house.

She organised someone else to call emergency services, the court heard.

Despite Biddle’s efforts, the pair had a fraught restorative-justice conference before sentencing this week.

The victim was critical of the defendant’s lack of apology in the aftermath of the incident and was upset that she initially pleaded not guilty.

Biddle explained she had taken legal advice telling her to do so and offered an apology at the meeting.

It was not accepted by the victim, the judge said.

The injured woman had found the events terribly traumatic,  continued to suffer flashbacks and was constantly anxious whenever she was in a car, the court heard.

Judge Macdonald said he had to focus on the degree of carelessness exhibited by Biddle, which he believed was at the "lower end".

"Momentary inattention," he called it.

Biddle was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay the victim $2283 at $30 a week.

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz

 

 

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