Driver avoids jail over cycling deaths

Kristy King. Photo / Christine Cornege

A young woman involved in a fatal collision that killed three cyclists late last year has been sentenced to 300 hours community service and fined $10,000 on each of three charges of careless driving causing death.

Kristy King, 23, was also disqualified from driving for one year when she appeared in Morrinsville District Court this morning.

The charges related to a November 14 accident, which killed Wilhelm Alois Muller, Mark Andrew Ferguson and Kay Wolfe.

King was driving to work towards Hamilton in her Mazda Familia when she failed to take a moderate right hand bend about 12km south of Morrinsville.

The cyclists, who were riding single file in a group of 10, tried to take evasive action as King's car slid about 36 metres across the road into their path.

Mr Muller and Mr Fergusson died at the scene. Mrs Wolf was taken to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries but died four days later. King, who suffered minor injuries, was discharged from hospital.

King sat quietly sobbing as seven victim impact statements were read in court today.

Many described nightmares and ongoing heartbreak at their loss.

In his victim impact statement, Kay Wolfe's son Gavin said his family were still grieving at the loss of his mother but that a prison sentence for King was not appropriate.

"The incident itself was absolutely terrible and traumatic, I saw the car as soon as it came around the corner," he said.

Rachael Dohrman, partner to Mark Fergusson, shook and cried as she read her statement.

"The hopes, dreams and aspirations Mark and I shared are now gone," she said.

"I struggle to find reason to go on. But I find heart to deal with it knowing Mark would want me to move forward."

The family of Mr Muller earlier said they wanted police to prosecute Ms King to create more awareness of road safety.