Woman charged after fatal crash near Gore
A Taranaki woman is alleged to have caused the crash which claimed the life of her much-loved aunt.
Waitara woman Kura Wijnschenk has pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of mother-of-two Cherie Bidois, along with an additional charge of careless driving causing injury involving another motorist.
In May 2017, Wijnschenk and Bidois were on holiday in the South Island and on their way to the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival when tragedy struck.
The pair’s campervan and another vehicle were involved in the crash, which happened on the corner of Andrews and Old Coach roads in Pukerau, near Gore.
The crash claimed Bidois’ life and left two others injured.
One person was taken to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries, while another went to Southland Hospital with moderate injuries.
Well known in the community, the 52-year-old social worker was farewelled at an emotional tangi at Waitara’s Owae Marae.
Through a representative, Wijnschenk declined to talk to Stuff at this stage as she wanted to focus on her upcoming court case.
However, the 43-year-old told Newshub’s The Hui on Sunday that although she already felt like she was living a life sentence, she remained determined to clear her name in terms of the criminal charges.
She said it had been ‘‘one of the hardest journeys’’ she had ever faced.
‘‘Emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, in all sorts. It’s pulled me in so many directions and tipped me over more than once,’’ she told The Hui.
Wijnschenk is due to appear in the Invercargill District Court on September 18 for a trial callover hearing.
The case is to be heard by judge-alone.