Driver pleads guilty to injury crash charges

A CHRISTCHURCH man responsible for a crash at Maheno that injured nine people late last year will be sentenced next month.

At the Oamaru District Court yesterday, Vinod Sam Vikram Konda (46) pleaded guilty to six charges of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury as a result of the December 17 crash.

The court heard that about 7.55pm, Konda was driving a Toyota vehicle with five passengers, including his 8monthold and 6yearold sons, north on State Highway 1 through Maheno in fine weather conditions at between 70kmh and 80kmh.

The section of road has a speed limit of 70kmh and double yellow lines.

As his vehicle approached the Kakanui River bridge, Konda looked over his shoulder to speak to his wife, a passenger in the back seat, about having a

‘‘comfort stop’’.

He then veered into the southbound lane of the highway into the path of a Mitsubishi hatchback with three occupants, including a 1yearold baby.

The driver of that vehicle attempted to evade Konda’s vehicle but failed, before the driver’s side of both vehicles bore the majority of the impact of the collision.

Konda’s vehicle rolled several times coming to rest on its side in the southbound lane and the Mitsubishi spun 360 degrees before it stopped on the side of the road.

Two people trapped in the Mitsubishi had to be freed by firefighters using the jaws of life.

In total, seven people — four from the Toyota and three from the Mitsubishi — were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital via two helicopters and three ambulances with serious and moderate injuries, including Konda, who had fractures to his left wrist and right leg.

His wife, 6yearold son, fatherinlaw and sisterinlaw were among those injured.

Both infants, restrained in a car seats, received minor bruising and cuts that did not require medical treatment.

The nature of the other victims’ injuries was not revealed in court.

When spoken to by police Konda said he was tired and had no time to react when he saw the oncoming vehicle.

Konda was remanded at large to appear in the Oamaru District Court on June 26 for sentencing.