Failure to give way cause of car crash
The death of a Manawatu woman in a car crash is proof lightning does strike twice, a court has heard.
Joshua James Moffett, 32, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court on Thursday for careless driving causing the death of Jeanette Taylor.
Taylor died on February 26, when Moffett drove through the intersection of Newbury and Roberts lines, t-boning Taylor’s car.
Moffett failed to give way on Roberts Line, and the court also heard he drove through a stop sign at the previous intersection with Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd without stopping.
Before Judge Stephanie Edwards gave her sentence, the court heard victim impact statements written by members of Taylor’s family, which were read to the court by a victim’s advisor.
Taylor’s sister Katrina Gore said their mother died in a car crash on the Desert Road in 1987.
‘‘As young children, we had our lives changed forever.
‘‘They say that lightning never strikes twice. This is not true.’’
Taylor’s husband Scott Taylor said they were ’’a typical New Zealand family, going about our lives’’ until the crash happened.
Now, he struggled with anger at what Moffett had done.
He would have to sell the lifestyle property they planned to bring up their son on, and make other lifestyle changes.
‘‘My son has no choice by to grow up without his mother.
‘‘I’m working on him not forgetting his mum, but that begins the cycle of anger again.’’
Defence lawyer Paul Murray said Moffett made attempts to apologise to Taylor’s family through police before he was charged with any offence.
‘‘He recognises there is nothing he can do or say or offer that can repair or atone for what he has done.
‘‘He will not forget, or forgive himself for what he has done.’’
Moffett had gone through major surgery for health issues prior to the crash, and perhaps had taken on too much too soon.
‘‘That is all with hindsight though.’’
Moffett was going through a disciplinary process with his employer, as he was driving a work vehicle at the time of the crash, Murray said.
The judge said sentencings like Moffett’s were some of the hardest to deal with, as a moment’s inattention could have consequences no one intended.
But Moffett’s actions were more than a moment’s inattention, shown by the fact he drove through the first intersection without stopping, the judge said.
‘‘At that time of the morning...the first intersection is particularly busy with commuters travelling to Palmerston North.
‘‘Your actions suggest a degree of complacency about the need to be aware of where you are on the road and what is ahead of you at all times.’’
Moffett was sentenced to 200 hours’ community work, disqualified from driving for 12 months, and ordered to pay $5000 reparation to Taylor’s family.