Tourist admits causing fatal crash

A tourist driver who killed a Hamilton motorist had no explanation as to why he crossed the centre line and smashed into an oncoming car.

New Caledonian Jeff Tau Viriamu has pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving causing death and two charges of careless driving causing injury.

The 43-year-old entered the pleas through lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe in Hamilton District Court yesterday.

The crash at Piarere, near Tirau, happened on the evening of August 23 and killed Hamilton woman Alysia Jade Kelly.

Three other people were hospitalised – including Viriamu.

He and his partner had visited New Zealand several times before and, on this occasion, arrived in the country on August 18, the summary of facts read in court said.

After a few days with friends, they rented a car in Auckland ‘‘with the intention of travelling to Taupo for the night’’.

At an ‘‘easy right-hand bend’’ in Piarere, the car crossed the centre line. The driver of the other vehicle moved as far left as he could in a vain bid to avoid a collision.

Kelly was a passenger in that car and died at the scene.

Viriamu’s partner was in the front seat of their vehicle and suffered crush injuries to her torso and a fractured leg, and remains in intensive care at Waikato Hospital.

Viriamu had no explanation for how he ended up on the wrong side of the road, the summary said.

He had a New Caledonian driver licence which allows him to drive in New Zealand.

Community magistrate Ngaire Mascelle remanded Viriamu on bail for sentencing on October 26.

She also directed a restorative justice conference request go to the victims.