Studies disrupted

The victim had been two months away from graduation and was doing so well at university she had been invited to join a masters programme the following year. But her injuries from the accident resulted in her being unable to complete her studies. She could not sit her final exam papers and lost her entitlement to do her masters degree, Judge Phillips said when Kalib Justin EdwardsPaul (20), student, appeared.

EdwardsPaul, of Waikaia, northern Southland, had been convicted of dangerous driving causing injury.

He was sentenced to four months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily), 200 hours’ community work, ordered to pay $8000 emotional harm reparation and disqualified from driving for one year and one month.

The offence happened on September 4 last year.

EdwardsPaul had pleaded guilty.

The police summary said the victim was driving on State Highway 1, about 8.15pm. At passing lanes north of Allanton she pulled over to the left side of the road to take a phone call. Her car lights were on and her vehicle was on, or close to, the left of the fog line.

About 8.35pm, the defendant, travelling in the same direction, entered the passing lane area and for some reason took his eyes off the road. During that time, travelling at about 100kmh, he drifted to the left. As he looked up, he collided with the back righthand side of the victim’s car.

Police calculated the defendant had about 420m of clear straight road in front of him before the impact.

As a result of the crash, the victim sustained a severe head injury and was in the intensive care unit and the brain trauma unit at Dunedin Hospital for some weeks.

She was subsequently transferred to a head injury clinic at Christchurch and would suffer longterm consequences from the injury.

In explanation, the defendant said he took his eyes off the road to check his speedo and did not see the victim’s car parked at the side of the road.

Counsel Val Farrow said the matter had weighed on EdwardsPaul. He had written a letter of apology and had undertaken a defensive driving course. Also, he had not previously been before the court.

Dealing with EdwardsPaul short of imprisonment, the judge said he thought the dangerousness was at the lowest end of such matters. He also noted the defendant’s youth, his remorse and his guilty plea ‘‘at the first opportunity’’.