Off-duty cop disqualified

A motorcyclist and pillion passenger were each left with a fractured pelvis after they were struck by an off-duty police constable who failed to give way at an intersection, a court has heard.

Mikayla Paul, 21, had been an officer for almost 18 months when the incident happened just before 1pm on December 26 last year.

In the Napier District Court on Friday she was disqualified from driving for two months after pleading guilty to careless driving causing injury.

Judge Tony Adeane said the rider, David Storey, had failed to switch the headlights of his motorbike on.

In doing so he had broken a requirement of a new law that went into effect last November 1 for all moped and motorcycle riders to have their headlights on during daylight hours.

According to a summary of facts, Paul had been travelling east on Hill Rd and approaching a T intersection with Main North Rd in Bayview that was controlled by a give-way sign.

After giving way to one vehicle, she pulled into the intersection and collided with the motorbike, which had been travelling north.

Storey was thrown from his bike and on to the windscreen of Paul's car while his passenger, Louise Mika, was thrown on to the road.

Paul said she had stopped at the give-way sign to let one car pass and then pulled out. She did not see the motorbike.

Storey fractured his pelvis and his left foot had to be repaired with a plate and pin. Mika also fractured her pelvis.

The motorbike, worth $23,000, was so badly damaged it was written off.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Krebs said the incident had been a "complete accident".

Paul was "highly remorseful" and had done "all the right things at the scene", including waiting with the injured pair for an ambulance to arrive. She also sent gifts to them in hospital.

Krebs said she would be applying for a limited licence for her job.

Judge Adeane disqualified her from driving for two months and deferred payment of reparation until April 1.

Eastern District Police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said police had launched an internal investigation into Paul's employment.

- APN