KEY POINTS:
The former police officer who allegedly caused a car crash which put a woman in a coma was told to flee the scene by his seriously injured brother, the Auckland District Court has heard.
Jason Connell Peters, a property developer and part-time model, appeared in court last week facing serious charges over a five-car pileup south of Auckland last May.
Peters, older brother of Rich List property magnate Jamie and cousin to Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston, was the driver of a BMW which crossed the centre line on State Highway 2 and collided with a Jeep Cherokee heading in the opposite direction.
The smash, described by a witness as "a big puff of smoke, a lot of flying glass, then a black vehicle flipping", put Peters' brother Mathew in hospital and newly married mother of one Michelle Davies in a coma for weeks.
The 42-year-old Peters then allegedly fled the scene, leaving his brother and another injured passenger trapped in the wrecked BMW. He was later found hiding in bushes by the police heat-seeking helicopter.
Witnesses at the depositions hearing last week recalled the BMW travelling erratically on the "Unforgiving Highway" near Maramarua, before it overtook another vehicle and veered into the Jeep carrying the newly married Michelle and Greg Davies and their 6-year-old daughter Gemma.
Ronald Stevens and his partner Sheree Hodges were travelling south behind the Davies' Jeep when the crash happened and were among the first on the scene to offer help,
"[I've] seen a big puff of smoke, a lot of flying glass, then a black vehicle flipping towards us," Stevens said.
The BMW came to a grinding halt about five metres in front of Stevens' van and ended on its passenger side.
Stevens said he ran over to assist the three occupants of the BMW and then helped the driver Jason Peters get out of the car.
Peters was pulled out over the unconscious body of his brother Mathew in the front seat. He then checked on his trapped brother and friend Anthony Andrew in the back.
"I asked him if he was OK, he said 'Yeah, I'm alright'," said Stevens.
Peters then went "walkabout" before returning to the wrecked vehicle to help his passengers, who were pinned in their seats.
By this time Mathew Peters had regained consciousness and told his brother to: "Get the f*** out of here before the cops get here," Stevens said.
Wearing gumboots, Jason Peters then left the scene.
Police later found him in a nearby paddock.
Senior Constable Rhys Bright, of the Hamilton serious crash unit, prepared the crash impact report handed up as evidence in court. The two vehicles crashed left headlight to left headlight, indicating the BMW was to the right of the Jeep Cherokee in the collision, Bright said in court.
Crown prosecutor Mark Ryan asked Bright if the BMW had only partially crossed the centre line, whether the two cars would have collided right headlight to right headlight.
"Yes, that's more typical in head-on crashes," said Bright.
Peters, a policeman for 10 years, faces three charges each of causing injury (to Michelle Davies, Mathew Peters and Anthony Andrew) by carelessly using a vehicle while illegally overtaking; dangerous driving causing injury to the same people; and driving with excess alcohol causing injury.
Michelle Davies, who suffered severe head injuries, spent weeks in a coma.
The depositions hearing has been adjourned until August.
