Guilty plea after fatal crash

A former North Otago representative rugby player yesterday pleaded guilty to five charges related to a fatal crash near Kurow last year.

Appearing before Judge David Saunders in the Timaru District Court, Regan Edward Laughton (41), of Hakataramea, admitted one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing death and four counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury.

On November 24 last year, Laughton pleaded not guilty to the charges, but entered guilty pleas in court yesterday after a two-hour sentencing indication hearing with an amended police summary of facts.

Judge Saunders remanded the 41-year-old on bail for restorative justice to occur.

He will appear for sentencing in the Timaru court on December 6.

Judge Saunders suppressed the content of the morning hearing, noting the information would be presented during the ``more formal'' sentencing hearing.

Laughton admitted his guilt as driver of the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser that crashed about midnight on May 9 or May 10 last year in Hakataramea Valley Rd, causing the death of Jarrad Ethan Blackler (23), of Danseys Pass, and causing injuries to the four other passengers: Ashley Maree Boardman, Timothy Michael Anderson, Simon Matthew Bertenshaw and Robert Alexander Courtnell.

About 15 supporters sat with Mr Blackler's parents and brother in court yesterday. Three supporters were in the courtroom for Laughton.

On the night of the crash, Laughton was among those at the Kurow Hotel celebrating the Kurow rugby team's victory over Maheno.

The police summary of facts states the publican had arranged a place to stay for several players and was anticipating taking others, including Laughton, home in the courtesy van.

Nevertheless, about 11.30pm, Laughton got behind the wheel of his vehicle and drove the victims towards Cattle Creek, in the Hakataramea Valley, where they planned to continue the celebrations.

On the way, Laughton failed to negotiate ``an easy right bend'' and the ute hit the grass verge at 104kmh. Laughton attempted to bring the ute back on to the road and it began to slide, crossing the centre line, and then to roll.

After rolling three and a-half times the ute came to a rest on its roof in a paddock. All six occupants were thrown from the vehicle during the crash. Nobody had been wearing a seatbelt.

Witnesses, including two of the victims, told police Laughton had been speeding during the drive. One victim, Mr Anderson, estimated that the ute travelled at speeds up to 120kmh.

A breath test was not administered to Laughton at the scene as he was receiving care in an ambulance before being airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.

At 6am on Sunday, he recorded a blood-alcohol level of 42mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 50mg.

``It is likely that the defendant's blood alcohol level exceeded 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, it is not possible to say with certainty what his level was,'' the police summary reads.

The extent of the victims' injuries was also detailed in the police report.

Mr Blackler suffered head injuries and was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital. On the following day, May 11, he was pronounced brain dead and later his life support was shut off.

Mr Courtnell was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The English national, recently arrived in Kurow to play rugby, was not expected to survive. He spent about 10 weeks in hospital and a rehabilitation centre in Christchurch before flying home.

He suffered serious brain injuries, a fractured pelvis, a punctured lung, a ruptured bladder, spleen and liver lacerations and spinal and neck injuries.

Mr Bertenshaw was taken by ambulance to Timaru Hospital, but later flown to Christchurch. He suffered a dislocated neck, five fractured vertebrae, a broken tibia and a medial ligament tear in his right knee.

Miss Boardman was flown to Christchurch Hospital. She suffered a broken clavicle, a splintered vertebra and a sprained ankle; a muscle from her spine was torn and she required stitches to her face.

Mr Anderson was taken to Timaru Hospital by ambulance with ligament damage in his right ankle and a concussion.

Laughton, a veteran Kurow loose forward, was a key member of the North Otago team which won its first national title in 2002.

Originally from Southland, Laughton made his North Otago rugby debut in 1999 and had 58 first-class caps when he retired from representative duty in 2007, having made a comeback to help the Old Golds win the Meads Cup.