Crash caused by driver changing radio station

A driver says he was changing the car radio station when he rear ended a car which then ploughed into a man on his scooter pinning him underneath.

Adam Thomas Toi, 48, pleaded guilty today before Judge Geoff Rea at Napier District Court to one charge of careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury.

A police summary of facts states that on April 28 at 11.50am Toi was driving his Ford Explorer along Gloucester Street, in Greenmeadows.

The summary states Toi has a condition to his licence that he must have a supervisor with him while driving, but in court his lawyer said the condition was simply that his client was still on his learner's driver's licence.

Toi drove up to traffic lights at the Greenmeadows intersection where other vehicles were queued, waiting for the red light to turn green.

Failing to slow down Toi ploughed into the back of the car in front of him.

"The force of the impact shunted the vehicle into a motor scooter that was waiting at the lights, throwing the rider off the scooter," the summary states.

As the rider of the scooter fell to the ground Toi's car "rolled over the top of the victim, trapping him".

The rider of the scooter received a fracture to his right clavicular and a large laceration to the right knee.

Toi 's explanation to police was that he was adjusting his radio.

His lawyer said Toi "took his eyes off the road for a second, but that's all it takes".
Judge Rea said the defendant's driving record was appalling and set a bail condition for him to stay off the roads.

Toi will be sentenced near the end of this month.