KEY POINTS:
A Rotorua woman whose inattentive driving resulted in the death of her grand-daughter was sentenced to 12 months' supervision today.
Hiriti Hinepuke Maaka, 51, a cleaner, was told by Judge Ian Thomas in Tauranga District Court that no degree of punishment could change the family suffering that had resulted from the fatal head-on crash near Te Puke in January which left the eight-year-old dead and four other people seriously injured.
"This was tragic," he said.
Although the circumstances were serious, speed and alcohol were not factors.
There was some likely "inattention" from Maaka who was chatting and laughing with the female relatives she was taking on a happy day out.
Sunstrike may also have played a part in the drift to the other lane on State Highway 33 which resulted in a head-on collision, Judge Thomas said.
The degree of carelessness was "at the lower end of the scale" but had "the most disastrous results".
Maaka, still needing a stick to help her walk, leaned heavily against the dock as she was sentenced on a charge of careless driving causing the death of Taylor-Jean Maaka-Batt and four counts of careless driving causing injury.
The little girl died at the scene and one of Maaka's rear seat passengers was hospitalised with extensive broken bones, a lacerated colon, bruised lungs and a perforated bowel.
All occupants of the other vehicle were badly hurt. The driver suffered a dislocated hip and extensive bruising and his brother had a broken upper arm and ankle, two punctured lungs and a lacerated spleen and liver. A friend travelling with them had spinal and liver injuries.
Both cars were written off.
Maaka, who was a hardworking person, was remorseful and trying to work things out with other family members, the judge said.
The court was told that the victims in the other car had chosen not to take part in a restorative justice meeting.
Judge Thomas ordered Maaka to pay $6600 reparation to the other driver, plus a personal sum of $500.
He disqualified her from driving for 15 months.
- NZPA
