Woman admits to careless driving after fatal crash

The woman appeared in Westport District Court. Photo / File

A Westport woman has admitted to careless driving causing the death of 66-year-old Seddonville woman Marie Evelyn Johnston, after initially denying the charge.

Carol Anne Keoghan, 61, appeared in Westport District Court last week. The head-on crash which killed Mrs Johnston happened in the Lower Buller Gorge on October 2 last year.

She was taken to Buller Hospital via ambulance with multi-system trauma before she died. Her passenger, a 45-year-old man, was taken to Buller Hospital with head injuries.

Firefighters had to cut Keoghan from the other car using the jaws of life. She sustained chest and leg injuries. Her 10-year-old passenger received minor injuries.

Defending in court, Marcus Zintl said Keoghan had always accepted responsibility for Mrs Johnston's death, but took issue with "conflicting" police reports and the use of the word 'careless'.

Keoghan now accepted the use of the word careless in this case, he said. Both the police and the defence now agreed on the summary of facts.

He asked Judge Christopher Somerville to record her guilty pleas, but to not enter any convictions, as he would be seeking a discharge without conviction.

Judge Somerville remanded Keoghan at large until October 29, calling for full probation and reparation reports.

- Westport News