A drunk motorcyclist who tried to evade police ended up in a rescue helicopter flying to Dunedin Hospital after he crashed his motorbike.
The summary of facts state it was the partner of Karetai who contacted police on June 12 last year after she became concerned he had gone riding on his motorbike after drinking.
He had been gone half an hour when she phoned to report him.
About 6pm a policeman saw Karetai riding his Harley-Davidson in Mataura.
Karetai was witnessed driving at speed, crossing the centre line and nearly crashing into the opposite side of the bridge in Bridge St.
He continued on State Highway 1 at speed heading towards Gore and was captured on CCTV about 6.14pm coming from River St in Gore and turning into the roundabout in Medway St.
"The defendant drove on the wrong side of the road going on to a roundabout and continued on the wrong side of the road on to the bridge over the Mataura River in Gore," the summary of facts said.
When he arrived at his home address police were waiting for him — when he saw them he sped away.
It was when he took a right-hand bend in Whiterig Rd as he was leaving the Gore township he left the road on the outside of the bend, sliding across a grass verge before crashing into a fence on a farm.
"He continued forward and came to a stop on a grass paddock," the summary of facts said.
Karetai received serious injuries and was flown to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter.
When asked by police about the offending, Karetai said he could not remember much of the crash and declined to be interviewed.
His lawyer, Bill Dawkins, said his client’s knee had been shattered as a result of the accident and he still had many surgeries to go.
He said Karetai realised he could have badly injured others, not just himself.
Judge Harvey said his driving was incredibly dangerous but because of his upcoming surgeries and injuries sustained in the accident he could not impose community work.
He imposed a sentence of 12 months’ supervision, fined him $2000, court costs $130, disqualified him for 28 days with alcohol interlock provisions and ordered him to pay reparation of $312.50.
"I want your alcohol consumption looked at," he told Karetai.
