Driver pleads guilty but disputes speed
The man who caused the crash that killed Allan Peter Hill admits his driving was dangerous, but denies going as fast as police say.
The Palmerston North District Court was packed on Thursday afternoon when Jonathon Yorke, 24, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Hill’s death, and to injuring three others.
Hill, 24, died when two cars crashed at the corner of Rongotea, Leen and Cole roads, about 18 kilometres north-west of Palmerston North, at 1.30am on June 30.
Hill was in the back of a Holden being driven by Yorke along Leen Rd towards the intersection.
Yorke was leading a convoy of cars. The road condition was fine, although there was some mist.
Yorke was required to give way. There was a sign at the intersection, and a warning sign 200 metres before it. However, he did not slow down or stop, instead going straight into the intersection and colliding with another vehicle.
The force of the crash tore the back off the Holden, and Hill was thrown from the car. The vehicle came to rest 70m from the intersection.
Yorke, who had no previous convictions, told police he did not see the give way sign because of the fog. He said he was driving at between 80 and 90kmh, but the police alleged he was going well above 100kmh.
Defence lawyer Steve Winter said Yorke was driving too fast for the conditions, making his driving dangerous, but still disputed the police’s speed estimate. He was unable to align the police’s estimate with the crash report, Winter said.
Yorke had name suppression until Thursday’s appearance, but Winter did not seek for that to continue.
Judge David Smith convicted Yorke, remanding him until a case review hearing in March for the speed issue to be sorted out.
The force of the crash tore the back off the Holden, and Hill was thrown from the car.