A Queenstown cabbie who drove into a pedestrian, breaking her leg, could not have done more to show his remorse, his lawyer says.
Shiv Jot Singh (35), of Hanleys Farm, was charged with careless driving causing injury after he hit a young woman at the intersection of Ballarat and Stanley Sts in the resort town’s CBD on July 30 last year.
The victim suffered a broken femur, for which she needed surgery at Southland Hospital.
Singh applied for a discharge without conviction at a hearing in the Queenstown District Court on Friday.
Counsel Ben Alexander said the defendant took full responsibility for the accident, and apologised to the victim in writing and again in person at an "incredibly positive" restorative justice meeting.
He completed a defensive driving course, made a donation to a safer driving charity, and even paid for return tickets for the victim to fly to Brisbane to visit her unwell grandmother.
Police say the defendant was in his car with a paying passenger in Ballarat St about 1.15am, waiting to turn across the signalled intersection into Stanley St towards Frankton.
Although it was dark, the intersection was well-lit.
The victim, who was on the opposite side of the intersection, began walking across Stanley St when the pedestrian signal turned green.
Despite a red "no turn" arrow, Singh turned into the intersection and struck the victim near the centre of the road, knocking her over.
He immediately stopped and went to her to aid, and drove her to Lakes District Hospital.
Singh told police he was unsure whether he had a green turning signal or not, but had tried to stop before hitting the victim.
Mr Alexander said the defendant had a "momentary lapse of attention".
It was dark and the victim was wearing black clothing.
The defendant had worked as a taxi driver in the resort town for 10 years, and had no criminal record.
A conviction would mean a mandatory disqualification for at least six months, which would result in the defendant losing his job.
It would also put the passenger endorsement on his driver licence at risk.
He was the sole income provider for his wife and young daughter, and sent between $500 and $1000 a month to his parents and siblings abroad, who relied on the income.
Community magistrate Sally O’Brien said Singh’s actions from the moment of the accident had demonstrated his remorse.
She accepted the consequences of a conviction would be out of proportion to the seriousness of the offending, and granted a discharge without conviction.
