Driver’s mistake was ‘life-changing’

careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury in the Nelson District Court on Tuesday.

Police said that on February 1, Harvey was parked outside Bay Audiology at the Richmond Mall. She started her vehicle, mounted the footpath, and crashed through the frontage of the office, striking a 61-year-old woman who was sitting at a desk.

The victim was pinned against the interior office wall and suffered a broken pelvis. She was hospitalised for five weeks and required multiple and ongoing operations.

Harvey told police she must have accidently put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake.

Judge Tony Zohrab said the victim had been ‘‘severely impacted’’ by the incident, having frequent flashbacks where she would wake in the night, struggling to get the car off her.

She had lost confidence and was anxious about driving. There had been significant financial consequences for both her and her family.

Judge Zohrab said Harvey was a good citizen with no previous bad driving record, unlike many others he dealt with who readily drove on a poor basis.

‘‘It was very much an accident,’’ he said. ‘‘The degree of fault was relatively modest but the significance of the consequences for the complainant were life-changing.’’

Harvey was disqualified from driving for six months, required to attend a driving course, and ordered to make an emotional harm repayment of $3500.