A honeymooning tourist who wreaked at least $250,000 in damage from a massive power surge when he ran into a power pole near Te Taho three weeks ago has pleaded guilty to careless driving.
The tourist has appeared in the Christchurch District Court and although he has since returned to India, he was remanded for another court appearance on May 1.
Constable Brent Whittington, of Franz Josef Glacier, said the May 1 reparation and sentencing hearing would proceed without him.
Westpower has sought $57,000 reparation from the driver, but the cost of insurers was expected to be over $200,000, Mr Whittington said.
The power surge blew up household appliances in just about every house in the Whataroa district, and also 'fried' the electrics in dozens of milking sheds. One Hokitika retailer subsequently sent at least six truckloads of whiteware to replace the damaged goods.
Police said at the time of the crash the Indian honeymooner's rental 2017 BMW apparently flew past a line of traffic on State highway 6 and was airborne when it hit the power-pole above ground level, splitting it down the middle.
It brought down live wires and insulators on to the road, plus another electricity supply line, creating the power surge.
- Brendon McMahon
