Victim lucky to survive crash

The victim of a careless driver takes 32 pills a day to deal with the pain from injuries he sustained in a two-car crash near Timaru more than a year ago.

Mark Kelliher was in a coma for 12 days after the collision caused when Kevin Terry Booth, 40, of Balclutha, drifted across the centre line.

Among the extensive injures the victim suffered were fractures to his ribs, sternum, pelvis, and left leg, a brain injury, and cuts to his body and internal organs.

‘‘This accident has caused enormous stress to me and my family. My wife was told there was little to no hope for my survival,’’ Kelliher said in a victim impact statement read to the Timaru District Court yesterday.

‘‘I have lost my independence. I get distressed, especially when I can’t take my boys to sport or after-school activities.’’

Kelliher said he was part of a ‘‘hunting and fishing family’’ and feared he would never be able to enjoy those activities again.

‘‘I promise you one day I will walk, hopefully without pain,’’ he said.

Judge Joanna Maze sentenced Booth to six months’ community detention and disqualified him from driving for nine months. He pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury during a December court appearance.

The cars collided head-on after Booth’s Nissan Navara drifted into the victim’s path while trying to clear a sweeping left-hand turn near the intersection of State Highway 1 and Craigie Rd, nine kilometres south of Timaru, about 5.30pm on December 27, 2018.

The weather was fine, traffic light, and the road surface dry.

Judge Maze said the victim ‘‘suffered extremely severe injuries and was fortunate to survive’’, and was not able to leave hospital until March 11, 2019.

Both men had no recollection of what happened, the judge said.

Defence lawyer Kelly Beazley said Booth had given $5000 to the victim by way of reparation payment.