Driver banned after crashing into police

The driver of a sewage truck that collided head-on with a police ute has been banned from driving for six months.

A Far North man has been banned from driving for six months after a head-on crash with a police car.

Grant Frederick Butler, 61, was sentenced in Kaitaia District Court this week after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of careless driving causing injury.

He was ordered to pay $550 reparation to the victim, Houhora police Senior Constable Tracee Knowler.

Butler was driving north in a sewage truck just before Christmas last year when a vehicle ahead of him stopped and was indicating to turn right into the Houhora Game Fishing Club.

He could not stop so pulled around the stationary vehicle and collided head-on with the oncoming police ute. Both were hurt, Ms Knowler suffering a knee injury and Butler neck injuries. The crash was referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, which investigates every crash involving a police officer. However, the IPCA found there was no case to answer.

Meanwhile, Ms Knowler said she would donate the $550 reparation, which she had not asked for or expected, to a fundraising project called the Chickshaw Blues.

In August, Ms Knowler and a South Auckland police officer are planning to travel the length of India in a tuktuk as part of an annual fundraising rally.

The money they raise via the website givealittle.co.nz will go to the Whangarei-based Miriam Centre to provide counselling for victims of sexual abuse in the Far North. The officers were covering their own travel costs.

So far they have raised just over $2200 but are hoping to reach $70,000.