American tourist to pay $30,000 compo over crash

An American tourist has been ordered to pay $30,000 compensation and fined a total of $4000 over a crash that left two motorcyclists dead near Masterton last month.

Pamela Kay Stone, 45, a finance manager, pleaded guilty to two charges of careless driving causing death and two of careless driving causing injury.

During sentencing in the Masterton District Court yesterday, a man in the public gallery was removed after shouting abuse at the defendant.

The dead men, Joseph Tyacke, 41, and Tony Bak, 33, both of Masterton, were part of a group of motorcyclists when Stone collided with them.

Two other motorcyclists, Mr Tyacke's wife, Shirley, and Rex Bateman were injured.

Judge Ian Mill ordered Stone to pay compensation of $30,000, comprising $10,000 to Mr Bak's children, $15,000 to Mrs Tyacke and $5000 to Mr Bateman.

On each of the four charges, Stone was convicted and fined $1000, ordered to pay $130 court costs and disqualified from driving for five years.

Her lawyer, Jane Johnson, said that when Stone saw the motorcyclists she thought they were in her lane and she veered to the right. "This is a person unfamiliar with the road, coming to a corner and reacting in a way which would be natural for her to react in her own country," Ms Johnson said.

Judge Mill said Stone instinctively turned the vehicle to avoid a possible collision. "Unfortunately your instincts were to veer to the right and you took your vehicle straight into the path of the motorcyclists."

- NZPA