Student drivers in court after crashes

Sun and icecream proved unfortunate for two young drivers.

Maximus Prime AllenSimmons was affected by sunstrike when he hit a motorcyclist and sent the man flying 12 metres through the air, the New Plymouth District Court was told.

And in a separate case, Briana Chelsea Watson injured three people when she rear-ended their car at roadworks, causing it to smash into the vehicle in front, after she was distracted by a ‘‘big icecream sign’’.

The court was told that AllenSimmons had been driving along High St West in Waitara on October 26 when he attempted to turn right over the centreline and into a diagonal car park outside the High Street Dairy.

But the 18-year-old failed to see the motorcyclist travelling towards him in the opposite lane.

Emergency services were called and the man was transported to hospital.

He suffered a dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung and multiple cuts and bruises. Both vehicles were extensively damaged.

Allen-Simmons appeared for sentencing on Wednesday on a charge of careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury, which he admitted.

Defence lawyer Jo Woodcock said at the time of the 4.45pm crash Allen-Simmons’ vision was affected by sunstrike.

He was remorseful and wanted to meet with the victim as part of the restorative justice process, but the victim did not wish for that to proceed, Community Magistrate Shaun Cole was told.

It was heard the motorcyclist’s riding gear was damaged in the crash but the approximately $3000 worth of leathers was not covered by insurance.

Allen-Simmons only works part-time and is enrolled to start a course in March so his financial means were limited, Woodcock said.

After considering the submissions, Cole ordered AllenSimmons pay his victim $2000 and disqualified him from driving for six months.

Meanwhile, reparation was also an issue for Watson, who appeared later in the same court facing two charges of careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury.

She had been driving from Hamilton, where she studies, to see family in New Plymouth when she was distracted by the sign, a police summary of facts stated.

The 26-year-old was on State Highway 3 near Otorohanga and failed to see the line of traffic stopped for roadworks.

The driver and the two passengers of the vehicle she initially hit were transported to Waikato Hospital for treatment.

One passenger suffered two fractured ribs, another received a fractured pelvis, sternum and ribs and is receiving ongoing treatment.

The driver suffered cuts to his hands, while Watson and the driver of the third vehicle were uninjured. All three cars were extensively damaged.

Woodcock, who also represented Watson, handed Community Magistrate Cole a letter of apology from Watson who wanted to meet with the victims through restorative justice but was also declined.

The victims had incurred a number of costs, including for medical, parking and a damaged tow bar, through the crash and reparation was sought.

But Woodcock said Watson was a full-time student and so her means were also limited.

Cole ordered her to pay one of the drivers $1400, another $500 and ordered her off the road for six months.