Driver jailed for ramming car into river

A road-rager who sped after a car carrying five innocent people and rammed their vehicle into Christchurch’s Avon River says his victims should not be scared of him.

None of the five victims were at the Christchurch District Court to see John David Malcolm Mclaren Savage jailed for three years, but his lawyer Clayton Williams said Savage had written letters of apology. Williams said Savage was very remorseful after the March 25 incident. ‘‘They appear to have ongoing fear of him. There is no basis at all for that.’’

Savage had also written a letter to Judge Alistair Garland for the sentencing, the month after he pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving causing injury to five people, and assault using a bottle as a weapon.

He had been remanded in custody for sentence, and Judge Garland yesterday jailed him for three years, disqualified him from driving for three years, and ordered him to pay $13,090 reparations to the victims by instalments when he is released from prison.

The court was told the five victims were in a car stopped at a red traffic light when Savage pulled up beside them. When they drove off, he rammed into the back of their car, and then rammed them a second time.

The other car sped up to try to lose him, but Savage chased them, crashed into both sides of their car, and tried to ram their car into parked vehicles and power poles.

He caused the car to lose control and spin out.

When Savage stopped and got out of his car and walked towards the other car, they drove off.

He chased them again and hit them in the back rear corner, spinning the victims’ car sideways.

Savage accelerated, causing the other car to flip and crash backwards into the Avon River.

The occupants got to the riverbank where Savage threw several items, including a bottle, at them. He then drove off.

The victims received injuries including soreness, torn shoulder, bruises, cuts to the face, head, hands and arms. One lost the top of her finger, and one had a chipped bone in the leg. One was hospitalised from swallowing water – a serious matter because he had cystic fibrosis – and the $8000 car was written off and other items lost or damaged in the river.

Savage told police had been ‘‘on acid’’ and was not really sure about everything that had happened.

Judge Garland said Savage, 27, had 21 previous violence-related convictions. – Fairfax NZ