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WESTPORT - A relief milker who hit and killed a man sitting on a West Coast road hugged members of the victim's family after she was discharged without conviction in Westport District Court yesterday.
Alexandra Thelma Morrow, 18, had earlier pleaded guilty to careless use of a motor vehicle causing the death of Brian Joseph Win, 49.
Judge Jane McMeeken said Morrow's culpability for the death was at the "extreme lower end" of the scale.
"This court cannot punish you more than you have punished yourself," the judge told her.
Police said Morrow was driving to work at 5am on January 2, at 70km/h, in extremely foggy conditions.
She did not see Mr Win who was sitting on the road, drunk.
Post mortem results revealed Mr Win had an alcohol level of 158mcg per 100 mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mcg.
There were also traces of codeine, morphine, and cannabis in his blood.
- NZPA