She started overtaking a slow-moving vehicle despite being able to see less than 100m ahead.
When she saw the Jeep rounding the corner in the oncoming lane ahead, she pulled right, causing the vehicles to crash in the opposing lane.
The collision sent the van airborne and into a ditch. The 11 players in the van were injured, four seriously.
Two remain in Waikato Hospital. Seven others were assessed and discharged on Sunday.
Some face months of rehabilitation, including a 17-year-old who suffered a spinal injury and had to have surgery to remove half her pancreas.
The group were due to leave New Zealand on Friday but she will have to stay at least another two weeks.
Others suffered broken bones or deep cuts requiring surgery, with one requiring a major knee surgery when she returns to Canada.
The female Jeep driver, from Napier, had bruising from the seatbelt, and suffered headaches.
Charges withdrawn
Vanry initially faced 10 charges of careless driving causing injury to victims of the crash, and one of careless driving.
In court, police prosecutor Sergeant Tina Smallman asked Community Magistrate Sherida Cooper to withdraw six of the careless driving causing injury charges.
Vanry’s lawyer David Pawson entered guilty pleas to the remaining five charges on her behalf.
Pawson said Vanry was “very upset” and “deeply remorseful” and was willing to pay $1000 emotional harm and $1500 reparation to the female Jeep driver, who was fully insured.
He said Vanry also wanted to pay $1000 for emotional harm to each of four injured seriously injured players.
This was despite their upset families being “very supportive” of her, and not seeking the payments.
Pawson said the van and Jeep were fully insured.
He said Vanry had a “momentary lapse of judgement”.
“In Canada, they drive on the other side of the road and her natural reflex to try and avoid the vehicle coming in her direction ended up in a critical mistake.”
Pawson said the injured players all had “promising sports careers” and some could play for Canada later in life.
‘Horrific experience’
Community Magistrate Cooper commended Vanry for writing “very individualised and very caring” letters of remorse to the parents of the victims.
She said the important thing was that “it appears that everyone is going to a make a good recovery”.
Vanry was ordered to pay $1000 for emotional harm and $1500 reparation to the Jeep driver and a total of $4000 emotional harm to the victims in hospital.
Vanry was also disqualified from driving for six months.
Pawson told NZME outside court it had been a “horrific experience” for all involved, and his client cared deeply for her victims.
He said Vanry would leave the country on Friday as planned and she was “filled with despair” about the crash.
Taupō police Senior Sergeant Fane Troy said some of the group were due to fly out on Thursday.
He said Vanry had taken responsibility for her actions, allowing the judicial process to be expedited.
“Her misjudgment has had a profound impact on the lives of her passengers, the other driver, and her own.”
He said the crash could have been “so much worse” if not for everyone wearing seatbelts.
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.
