A 17-year-old's "crazy" driving caused a catastrophic crash that killed his friend and seriously injured six people, a judge has said.
Wayne Darias Silbery's behaviour showed a lack of care, grossly reckless driving, and total disregard for orders of the court and the police when they had tried to stop him, Crown prosecutor Jane Farish said.
"It was only a matter of time before someone was going to be seriously injured by this man, given the way he was driving".
Justice John Hansen, sentencing Silbery to four years and eight months in jail, added: "Your crazy driving resulted in this catastrophic collision." He was also disqualified from driving for six years.
Reports produced for Silbery's sentencing in the High Court at Christchurch suggested he had little insight or understanding of the impact of his actions on the lives of others, Justice Hansen said.
"This case is all too typical of young men who come before the court for very serious offending.
"There is a series of small anti-social behaviours involving motor vehicles and stupid driving, and it suddenly escalates to the point of a catastrophic event like this."
On September 13, Silbery was driving a Pontiac Le Mans that had not been registered or warranted since 2002, and was unsafe.
When the police noticed 16-year-old Rangi Wano -- a social welfare home escapee -- in the back of the car, Silbery took off at speed, reaching 100km/h or more.
Police had pulled back from the 3.1km car chase when Silbery's vehicle crossed the centre traffic island outside Eastgate Mall, Christchurch, snapped off a lamp post, and crashed into a station wagon which was pushed left into a camper van.
Five people in those vehicles were injured. A passenger in his own vehicle was injured, and Mr Wano died of head injuries. Silbery is still receiving orthopaedic treatment for his own injuries.
Silbery admitted charges of manslaughter, six of reckless driving causing injury, driving while disqualified, burglary, unlawfully getting into a vehicle, and failing to answer his bail.
Defence counsel David Ruth said the family of the boy who was killed had not only forgiven Silbery but regarded him as an extended family member and had been his principal source of strength during the court process.
Outside the court, two of those injured -- Rodney and Colleen Gatehouse, an elderly couple in a campervan -- said they were still recovering from the crash.
- NZPA
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