Queenstown District Court
A CHINESE man has been ordered to pay $5000 reparation to the passenger of a light truck he collided with near Cromwell last month.
Zhijian Zhao (42), of Chengdu, was sentenced by Judge John Strettel in the Queenstown District Court yesterday on charges of careless driving causing injury to Andrew Cleveland, and careless driving causing injury to his own son Qihe Zhao (10 months), both on State Highway 6 near Cromwell on August 27.
Mr Cleveland suffered serious pelvic injuries in the crash. They were of such a nature that a surgeon had to be flown from Australia to operate on him.
The police summary of facts stated Zhao was driving a rented campervan on State Highway 6 in Cromwell about 11am. His passengers were his wife and infant son.
Approaching from Queenstown, he turned right on to State Highway 8b, the 80kmh connection road that bypasses Cromwell to the north.
A light truck carrying an excavator was driving south in the straightthrough lane, and could not avoid a collision with the campervan.
Mr Cleveland, the truck’s passenger, was trapped for about 45 minutes before he was cut out of the vehicle. He was flown to Dunedin Hospital with suspected fractures of his hip socket and knee.
The defendant’s son, who was sitting behind the defendant, was struck in the forehead by an unknown object. He was taken to Dunstan Hospital by ambulance but released a short time later with a small bruise and cut to his forehead.
The defendant told police he did not specifically understand New Zealand’s traffic rules.
Zhao’s counsel, Liam Collins, said the defendant’s driving was not a case of ‘‘kilometres and kilometres of carelessness’’ like incidents often heard about in Queenstown’s court, but was a single lapse of judgement.
Judge Strettel said the impact on the victim’s life was significant and ongoing.
He had undergone ‘‘multiple surgeries’’, was suffering loss of income and a ‘‘loss of enjoyment of life’’ that would continue for some time.
He convicted Zhao on both charges. On the charge relating to Mr Cleveland, he ordered him to pay $5000 reparation, and disqualified him from driving for two years.
On the charge relating to Zhao’s son, he was disqualified from driving for two years (concurrent).
Discharge granted
A director of a film production company has been granted a discharge without conviction after admitting charges arising from a series of incidents in Queenstown following the breakup of his marriage.
Cameron Arthur Wood (43), of Wanaka, became distressed after losing access to his children after separating from his wife.
He was charged with breaching a trespass order on March 26; obstruction of a constable in the course of their duty on April 1; and psychological abuse while a protection order was in force on August 11.
Judge Strettel said on each occasion the defendant failed to recognise the impact of his actions on his former wife.
The three incidents were serious when considered together, and had an emotional impact on the complainant.
He ordered Wood to pay the victim $750 for emotional harm.
Drinkdriving
A judge has expressed scepticism at a British drinkdriver’s claim he drank only two pints of beer on the night he was caught.
Andrew Christopher Kimpton (25), joiner, of Lake Hayes Estate, had a breathalcohol reading of 1113mcg after he was stopped in Frankton Rd on September 6.
He was convicted and fined $1200, court costs $130, and disqualified for nine months.
‘‘I don’t know how much you had to drink, but it was certainly in excess and more than two pints,’’ Judge Strettel said.
‘‘You were grossly over the limit.’’
Luke Gissing (24), cabinet maker, of Fernhill, claimed he had drunk ‘‘four or five beers’’ when he crashed his car into a parked vehicle on Fernhill Rd on September 9.
He told police he was attempting to change music on his phone at the time.
He had a breathalcohol reading of 920mcg.
He was convicted and fined $950, court costs $130 and is disqualified for 28 days or until an alcohol interlock device is fitted.
Other convictions
Matthew Thomas Clark (34), of Hanmer Springs, two charges of trespass, Alpine Village Inn, two charges of assault, threatening to injure a constable with intent to intimidate, and resisting police, all in Hanmer Springs on July 1, 180 hours’ community work; refusing to give particulars to police, Hanmer Springs, July 1, convicted and discharged.