Radio station host Stables fined

A radio host who ignored roadworkers and tried to drive through a closure later fell asleep at the wheel, a court has heard.

Auckland resident Iain Philip Stables, 50, was driving north on State Highway 1 through Peketa¯ , south of Kaiko¯ura, when police received a complaint about his driving about 12.23am, on June 9 last year.

Stables was trying to drive through a road closure due to roadworks, despite being told a number of times by roadworkers to turn around, a police summary of facts said.

Eventually Stables gave up and pulled over to wait for the road to reopen, and about two hours later was able to continue driving north.

However, police received another complaint about his driving, about 5.30am in Riverlands.

Stables was seen crossing the centre line at least 10 times, the summary said.

At that time there was a steady flow of traffic, the speed limit was 100kmh and there were two lanes in either direction.

As he approached Blenheim, the speed limit dropped to 70kmh and the road curved to the right.

Stables fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the centre line and crashed into a mailbox, the summary said.

When spoken to by police, Stables said he was unsure if he had fallen asleep or blacked out.

Stables pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving in an email which he sent to the court the night before his scheduled appearance at the Blenheim District Court on Monday, which he did not attend in person.

Judge Jo Rielly said Stables had travelled to Christchurch to pick up a car, and was driving it back to his home in Auckland at the time of the crash.

‘‘The circumstances are concerning, because it is clear that Mr Stables was driving when he was affected by fatigue.’’

Judge Rielly said she had received medical records that said Stables had a medical condition that meant