Carterton driver suffered ultimate sentence, says judge

Masterton District Court.

A judge has told a young driver whose momentary lapse of attention caused the death of her mate that she had already suffered the ultimate sentence.

Amanda Rose, 18, from Carterton appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday for sentencing on a charge of careless driving causing death.

On February 21, on the southern approach to the Opaki overbridge, Rose lost control of the car she was driving, after the left wheels drifted off the tar-sealed road and on to the gravel. Her attempts to correct the car led to a loss of control, with the car rolling and crashing into a fence.

Her passenger, 16-year-old Tegan Moyes, was thrown from the car and died in Wellington Hospital from head injuries sustained in the crash.

Defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt said Rose was dealing with the loss of her best friend. He said there had been no alcohol or speeding involved in the crash and that it was just a moment's inattention.

"It's truly a momentary inattention [that has had] catastrophic consequences."

Mr Blathwayt said Rose had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and would always carry the burden of her friend's death.

Prosecuting sergeant Garry Wilson said Rose's carelessness had been at the lower end but, as the consequences were tragic, needed to be denounced.

He said the community had been through a tragic period of time, with many young people killed on Wairarapa roads.

Judge Barbara Morris said Rose had been a restricted driver, so should not have had any passengers, and that neither girl had been wearing a seatbelt.

She said Miss Moyes had been on life support for three days before her family made the decision to turn the machine off.

"I have read the victim impact statement, it makes for heart-rendering reading, this happy family, including five children, has been torn apart...nothing the court can do can restore that, no words can describe their loss."

She said Roses' inattention had caused "momentous loss" but she had suffered the ultimate sentence.

Judge Morris sentenced Rose to 100 hours community work, ordered her to complete a defensive driving course and disqualified her from driving for 10 months. Outside court, Roses' grandmother, Monica Rose, said she was "just glad it was all over for her" and that Rose could now move on with her life.

"Although of course it's never going to be over for her."