Death car driver pledges to help stop disqualified drivers

WELLINGTON: A man who deliberately fishtailed his car before crashing and killing a passing jogger has been sentenced to two years and four months behind bars.

Caroline Boyd died in March 2017 in Paekakariki, near Wellington, when she was hit by the car Nathan James Lyon was driving.

He lost control of the unwarranted Mazda RX7 and the car spun 180 degrees before hitting the footpath and Ms Boyd on the opposite side of the road.

Lyon was disqualified from driving at the time.

He previously pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing death, reckless driving causing injury, and driving while suspended Ms Boyd died at the scene. The verdict prompted tears in the High Court in Wellington as Lyon’s partner sobbed and Ms Boyd’s family hugged each other and cried.

In court, Ms Boyd’s daughter, Rebecca Boyd, read out a victim impact statement that described her mother as the ‘‘heart and soul’’ of their family.

‘‘There are so many precious occasions that have been cruelly taken from her.

‘‘She would be devastated at not being to attend her children’s graduations, celebrate their weddings or meet her grandchildren.’’

Her family want to see more done to stop disqualified drivers from continuing to drive.

As part of the restorative justice process, Lyon told them he would take part in a video to tell others what he had done and how deeply he regretted it.

Rebecca Boyd said Lyon had promised to never drive again, and they would hold him to that, while still acknowledging his remorse.

‘‘But what about the many other drivers who have a history of driving while disqualified?’’ she asked.

‘‘There must be some kind of intervention that can change the thinking of these drivers before real life consequences occur.

‘‘What does driving while disqualified mean if there is no effective sanction, or if communities look the other way?

‘‘There appear to be no meaningful courses of action available for dealing with repeat infringements. Our challenge now is to enable constructive change.’’ — NZME

❛ What does driving while disqualified mean if there is no effective

sanction, or if communities look the

other way?