Truck driver admits causing fatal smash

A passenger in a van saw the lights of a large truck in the wrong lane moments before a fatal collision.

The man was one of six ANZ staff heading from Nelson to Hanmer Springs for a social weekend with colleagues from Christchurch on November 3 last year. He recalled hearing the van driver say, ‘‘Oh s...’’ as they rounded a bend on State Highway 65 north of Springs Junction.

The passenger said the truck and first trailer were about a metre across the centre line, while the rear trailer was almost fully in the southbound lane. There was nowhere for the van to go, and then things ‘‘all went black’’.

The witness’s account was in a police summary of facts in the case against Leslie Thomas Poa, 57.

In the Nelson District Court on Monday, Poa pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle causing death, and five counts of careless aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury. He also pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to falsifying statements in a logbook, exceeding more than 13 hours in a work day, and failing to have more than 10 hours’ continuous rest.

Davila Renee Koroi, 32, of Motueka, was killed in the crash, and the van’s five other occupants were injured, with two flown to Christchurch Hospital.

The police summary said Poa was on his fifth day in a new job working for Auckland-based Leif Blair Transport. He had travelled that stretch of SH65 a number of times, having been contracted to other trucking companies.

Poa left Hanmer Springs around 6.30pm for Picton. Around 9pm on a straight stretch of road, he attempted to overtake a campervan. As he pulled out, the van came around the bend in front of him.

Poa realised he was not going to be able to pass the campervan in time, and started to pull back into the northbound lane. Analysis of the crash scene showed the van collided with the middle of the truck’s rear trailer.

Poa was uninjured in the accident. He stopped and did what he could before other road users arrived at the scene. When spoken to by police that night, he said the van was on the wrong side of the road.

Poa was remanded on bail, with conditions including not to drive a heavy motor vehicle. The case has been referred to restorative justice. He will appear for sentencing on July 30.