Serious injuries for crash victim ‘flung around’ in painful wake-up

A passenger had a painful wake-up call when the car he was in rolled along a rural highway while he slept, leaving him with serious injuries.

The vehicle, which belonged to the crash victim, was being driven by Jesse Cole Rosser, who pleaded guilty in the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday to a charge of careless driving causing injury.

Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie told the court that Rosser was driving the Honda motor vehicle south on State Highway 4, near Kakatahi about 3.30am on August 13. This stretch of road, between Raetihi and Whanganui, is governed by a 100km speed limit.

‘‘The vehicle was owned by the victim who was in the front passenger’s seat. He had his seat laying back and was asleep, not wearing a seatbelt,’’ MacKenzie said.

Rosser failed to negotiate a moderate left hand bend in the road and crossed the centre line, hitting a barrier on the other side.

’’The vehicle bounced off the barrier back onto the left side of the road hitting the bank on the side of the road. The vehicle has rolled coming to rest on its side,’’ MacKenzie said.

As a result of the impact, the victim was ‘‘flung around’’ inside the car and suffered significant injuries which saw him hospitalised for a week.

Along with two broken ribs, he also sustained a ruptured spleen and kidney, MacKenzie said. Duty lawyer Turitea Bolstad said Rosser had told her there had been a problem with the car’s brakes, which he believed was a factor in the crash.

However, the 20-year-old accepted responsibility for his role and for the injuries suffered by his friend, who had ‘‘no malice towards him’’, she said.

No reparation was sought by the victim. Judge Garry Barkle convicted Rosser and ordered him to pay a $550 fine plus court costs. The defendant was also disqualified from driving for six months.