'Raging bull' driver cops ban

Traffic was down to one lane after the crash. Photo / Martin Sykes

An elderly driver who caused a "horrendous" multiple-vehicle smash on Auckland's Southern Motorway that left a father with serious injuries has received a six-month driving ban and a $1000 reparation order.

Anton Radaich, 75, was found guilty of careless use of a vehicle causing injury after denying the charge.

The crash occurred between the Gillies Ave and Khyber Pass exits on the northbound carriageway at the start of the evening peak on October 28, 2008, closing the motorway for more than an hour. Police said the incident had a "horrendous" impact on traffic.

Witnesses said Radaich's black Mini Cooper joined the motorway at high speed at Gillies Ave, before moving quickly across two lanes. It was unable to move further across because of a large truck ahead and a van, driven by electrician Mark Phillips, on its right.

Phillips estimated he was driving at about 78km/h and the Mini was travelling about 20km/h faster. He said witnesses told him they had seen it run two sets of red lights before joining the motorway like a "raging bull".

Witnesses saw the Mini move inside the truck and accelerate until it was level with its front.

Phillips next saw the Mini driving between the front of the truck and a 4WD ahead of it, "perpendicular to the traffic".

The Mini struck his van on the back left. The impact sent Phillips' extension ladder spinning into the southbound carriageway. The back of the van slewed round and the front smashed into the 4WD.

Phillips said the van bounced over the bonnet of the 4WD and rolled five or six times.

Meanwhile, the Mini punctured the fuel tank of a small truck in the outside lane, causing the cap to blow off, and diesel to spew into the air.

The incident also caused a Volkswagen to smash into the rock wall at the left of the carriageway. The impact ripped away the front left wheel, damaged the brakes and crippled the steering.

Driver Linton Nisbet said diesel landed on the windscreen, restricting his vision.

His car crossed five lanes without hitting anything - as the Mini moved the same number of lanes in the opposite direction and Phillips' van rolled forward.

"I am surprised no one was killed," said Phillips, who is still off work because of his injuries.

Radaich's barrister, Danielle Beston, said his client declined to comment. He was sentenced by Judge Eddie Paul at Auckland District Court on February 16.

Phillips said the not guilty plea "only adds insult to injury".

"Anton Radaich is a 75-year-old man now so I would have hoped that he would have known better - unfortunately not."

And he warned other drivers to be careful. "Unfortunately we have to think for others who refuse to think for themselves."

Judge Paul issued a similar sentence in the case of a woman who ploughed into a group of cyclists on Auckland's Tamaki Drive last September, injuring four.

Jennifer Speakman admitted four charges of careless driving causing injury in December. She was later disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay each of the injured cyclists $1000 reparation.

The worst-affected, Greg Paterson, suffered skull fractures, brain injuries and paralysis to the left of his body.

chris.reed@hos.co.nz