A Te Puke man whose car crashed into that of another motorist who had pulled over to take a cellphone call, killing him, has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars to the man's family.
Alexander Neil Christensen, 47, appeared for sentencing in Rotorua District Court today after earlier admitting a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of 43-year-old Nick Kolsen in Rotorua on August 30 last year.
Mr Kolsen had pulled over to the side of Te Ngae Rd at about 4.35pm when Christensen slammed into the back of his vehicle, spinning it 180 degrees.
In sentencing, Judge Philip Cooper ordered Christensen to pay Mr Kolsen's family $11,000, half of it to be paid to his partner Corinne Lodge.
Judge Cooper also disqualified him from driving for nine months, telling him any further punishment would be unnecessary given the case's tragic circumstances.
