Jet skier fled scene after running over friend

File photo / Greg Bowker

A Queenstown teenager fled leaving his friend for dead after running him over on his jet ski on Christmas day last year, a court was told.

Jamie Scott Ridgway, 19, unemployed, appeared for sentencing in Queenstown District Court yesterday, after admitting endangering the life of Connor Williams, 20, and failing to render him assistance.

The two men had been jet skiing on the Kawarau River near Queenstown when Mr Williams turned sharply in front of Ridgway, The Otago Daily Times reported.

Unable to avoid a collision, Ridgway ran over the top of Mr Williams, leaving him unconscious and fled the scene.

After waking up on his back in the water, Mr Williams swam to shore and later flagged down a car.

He was treated in Dunedin Hospital for serious facial fractures.

Although Ridgway called police to report Mr Williams missing, he did not admit to his part in the crash.

Judge Dominic Flatley said Ridgway would have to deal with the consequences of his actions for a very long time.

It was, "an awful situation, the worst nightmare and I imagine it will affect you for a very long time, and that's the penalty as far as I'm concerned".

He sentenced Ridgway to 12 months' supervision with psychological counselling and ordered him to pay reparation of $2122 for search and rescue costs and directed him to learn maritime safety.

- NZPA