Dalbert Tin (29) was driving a rental car towards central Queenstown in Frankton Rd on January 14, when it crossed the centreline, struck a motorcyclist and hit Noelene Tait’s car head on.
Mrs Tait (84) died at the scene, the motorcyclist, Glen Cherry, of Cromwell, sustained serious leg injuries and Tin’s wife — who was sleeping in the passenger seat — was also hurt.
He appeared in Queenstown District Court for sentencing today after earlier pleading guilty to three charges when he appeared before Judge Russell Walker in the Queenstown District Court on January 27.
They are careless driving causing Mrs Tait’s death, careless driving causing injury to Mr Cherry and careless driving causing injury to Mei Chiee Koo (30).
In court today, Judge Brandts-Giesen disqualified Tin for for 15 months, and ordered that he must not drive in New Zealand again until he has completed a driving test.
Tin was ordered to pay $7390 reparation to Mrs Tait's family for funeral expenses, and $2000 for emotional harm.
He was also ordered to pay $15,450 reparation to Mr Cherry, and $4000 for emotional harm.
He must pay reparation of $8000 immediately, two-thirds to Mr Cherry and the balance to Mrs Tait's family.
Prosecuting Constable Dan Andrew said at the previous court hearing Tin was driving a rental car at 70kmh, when he crossed the centre line and into the path of Mr Cherry, who "took evasive action by turning hard left".
A lack of space between Tin’s car and the roadside bank meant Mr Cherry could not avoid a collision.
Tin’s car struck him on the right leg, causing him to somersault over his handlebars on to the road.
Tin’s vehicle then collided head-on with Mrs Tait’s car. Neither vehicle showed any signs of braking before impact.
Mrs Tait died at the scene.
Ms Koo (30) was thrown forwards, sustaining leg injuries and abdominal pain.
The defendant told police he "did not know why he was in the opposite lane", Const Andrew said.
Judge Walker continued Tin’s bail and remanded him for sentencing on February 10.
Tin was visiting New Zealand with his wife on a tourist visa.
Tin's counsel, Louise Denton, said today reparation was the appropriate sentence because community work was not a practical option.
He could only perform eight hours a week in Queenstown, so would have to live in another centre and carry out the community work there.
He could only afford to pay $8000 in reparation immediately, and $300 a month thereafter.
His family was not wealthy, he was not able to work in the business he part-owned in Singapore until he returned there, and his wife worked on a freelance basis.
Tin was an experienced driver, with a previous clean record, who was used to driving on the left-hand side of the road.
The crash was the result of a "terrible error".
Judge Brandts-Giesen told Mrs Tait's family and Mr Cherry, who were in court, today's sentencing was "an extremely difficult situation for all of you".
Tin had no explanation for crossing the centre line, other than he "might have been distracted by the scenery".
Tin has written letters of apology to Mr Cherry and Mrs Tait's family, and took part in a restorative justice meeting with Mrs Tait's family last Friday. He has also performed 37 hours of community work, voluntarily, for the Salvation Army.
Mrs Tait was an early member of the Arrow Miners Band and was formerly a nurse at then Kew Hospital in Invercargill.
Long-time friend Peter Doyle, of Queenstown, said the violinist was one of the original members of the Arrowtown-based Arrow Miners Band.
She had lived in Queenstown about 30 years, having moved from Invercargill, where she was a long-time nurse at Kew Hospital, now Southland Hospital.
Irish music was "her big deal" and she often performed at the Fork and Tap’s Irish music nights on Wednesdays, and was a regular entertainer at the Bupa and Abbeyfield retirement homes.
"She was a hard thing because, although she was 84, she used to say, ‘I’m going to go down and do something for the oldies’," Mr Doyle said.
"She was probably bloody older than most of them there."
