Chilean man guilty of Far North crash that killed two

Dante Vera had been in New Zealand for a week when he collided head on with a car carrying Marianne Andrew and Pauline Ogilvy, who were killed by the crash. Photo / File

A Chilean man has pleaded guilty over this crash at Houhora Heads on May 15 that killed Pauline Ogilvy and Marianne Andrew.

A 28-year-old Chilean national has pleaded guilty to causing the crash that killed two eldelry Far North women.

Dante Felipe Basaez Vera pleaded to two charges of aggravated careless driving causing death and one of aggravated careless driving causing injury.

Vera, who required an interpreter, entered his pleas before Judge Greg Davis in the Kaitaia District Court on Tuesday, and was remanded on bail to October 18 for sentence.

He is also to undergo a restorative justice process.

According to the prosecution, Vera, who had been in New Zealand for a week, was the driver of a van that collided head-on with a car on Houhora Heads Rd on May 15, as he travelled west in the wrong lane. The speed at impact was estimated at less than 60km/h.

Marion Andrew, front seat passenger in the car, died instantly, while the rear seat passenger, Pauline Ogilvy, died at Whangārei Hospital later that day. The driver of the car sustained serious internal injuries.

Marion Andrew (left) Pauline Ogilvy at a Pink Ribbon breakfast in 2016. Photo / File

Vera told police that he was "very, very sorry".

He had never had an accident before, and the van had reacted in a way that he had not experienced.