Careless moment caused car crash

A moment’s inattention had far reaching consequences for a Rangiora man’s victims, who suffered significant injuries.

Sales manager Warren Michael Fail, 37, appeared in Gore District Court yesterday and admitted two charges of careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury after a crash on State Highway 1 south of Mataura on February 13, 2018.

The summary of facts, which was read in court, says the weather was clear, the road was dry and visibility was good on the day of the crash.

The first victim, a 28-year-old man was travelling to his home south of Mataura when he stopped in the lane to give way to a line of northbound traffic.

Fail was driving about 500 metres behind the victim.

The second victim, a 49-yearold man, was travelling north about 100km in a line of traffic.

Fail failed to notice the first victim stopped ahead of him and swerved to avoid a collision, but he hit the rear of the vehicle, causing it to cross the centre line into the path of the second victim’s vehicle.

The victims’ vehicles collided head on, and Fail’s vehicle rolled and came to a rest. Firefighters cut both victims from their vehicles.

The first victim had a broken right femur and severe bruising to his right arm.

The second victim broke two ribs, a fractured humorous, fractured two vertebrae, a fractured sternum, contusions to both lungs, concussion and vision impairment.

In court, Fail told Judge Bernadette Farnan he had not met the victims personally but he had kept in touch with their family members for about a month after the crash. ‘‘I understand the impact it had on them and I wanted to make sure they were OK.’’

Judge Farnan ordered Fail to make emotional harm payments of $1200 to each of the victims, and disqualified him from driving for six months.

‘‘A moment’s minor inattention has a major impact on the victims and on the defendant as well,’’ Judge Farnan said.