Driver, 86 unaware of injury

An 86-year-old without a licence drove her car over a motorcyclist’s leg, causing severe injury, a court has heard.

On Thursday, Elizabeth Stella Milne appeared before Judge Garry Barkle in New Plymouth District Court where she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing injury.

Milne was helped by court staff into the dock where she sat as the court heard how on January 28 she slammed her car into a motorcycle causing it to fall over on top of the victim.

According to the summary facts, she then drove forward, stopped briefly then drove away.

The incident, which occurred in Moturoa, New Plymouth, was caused by the woman’s shoe slipping onto the accelerator, lurching the car forward and into the motorcycle which Milne had just parked her car behind.

The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries to his lower right leg which required multiple surgeries.

In her statement, Milne told police she had got out of her car to check for damage but was gestured by someone not to and so left.

She was unaware anyone had been injured, she said.

Duty solicitor Josie Mooney said Milne acknowledged she was not meant to be driving.

Her driver’s licence had been cancelled in 2012 due to a medical condition, she said.

‘‘She has had surgery to have the cataracts removed but she hasn’t gone through the process of having her licence reinstated.’’

Mooney asked that the matter be dealt with on Thursday due to Milne’s health issues and asked Barkle to consider an extended driving disqualification beyond the one year minimum.

‘‘Realistically she doesn’t have a lot of sentencing options,’’ she said.

‘‘She’s been talking about objects at home she can sell.’’

Barkle remanded Milne to reappear on April 30 so the victim had an opportunity to be heard by the court.

‘‘In the meantime, please don’t drive,’’ he said.