Careless driving causing child’s death admitted

Photo: Gerrit Doppenberg
Photo: Gerrit Doppenberg
A woman has admitted to carelessly driving in a Gore driveway, causing the death of a toddler.

In the Gore District Court last Wednesday, Judge Russell Walker suppressed the woman’s name and other details until her sentencing in March.

She was originally charged eight months after the incident, which happened on New Year’s Day last year, with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing injury.

The Crown last week withdrew the second charge and amended the lead charge to a lesser one of careless driving causing death.

The woman’s counsel, Roger Eagles, subsequently entered his client’s guilty plea.

The child died in Gore Hospital several hours after being injured by a reversing vehicle on the evening of January 1, 2025.

The woman and another child were also treated for injuries sustained in the event, police said at the time.

Judge Walker remanded the woman on bail until sentencing, allowing time for victim impact statements and a psychological report to be filed.

ella.scott-fleming@alliedmedia.co.nz