Raymond Cecil Horscroft, 75, from Pukehina yesterday pleaded guilty to three charges of careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury, when he appeared in the Tauranga Community Magistrate's Court.
On the day of the crash he admitted to police he had fallen asleep and caused the September crash that left the trio with horrific injuries.
Lawyer Tony Balme, who entered guilty pleas on his client's behalf, told Community Magistrate Jack Best the case should be adjourned for a restorative justice meeting.
Mr Balme said the contents of the police summary of facts was accepted by his client.
The summary revealed that on the day of the accident Horscroft had been working on his farm and had risen at dawn to complete the morning tasks.
About 8am he had breakfast and then continued working until lunchtime.
After lunch he and his wife connected a home-built trailer to their Hyundai SUV and headed to Te Puke, where they bought strainer posts and loaded them into the trailer.
The couple left Te Puke to return home about 2pm.
About the same time the mother was walking south along Otamarakau Valley Rd pushing her two children in a pushchair. She was walking on the side of the road facing approaching vehicles.
About 2.20pm, Horscroft was driving towards his house in the same direction the victims were walking.
He fell asleep and the SUV veered right crossing on to the other side of the road and the grass verge.
It was then that Horscroft woke to see his vehicle heading for the mother and her children. He pulled the steering wheel hard to the left but it was too late, the summary said.
Two rescue helicopters airlifted the children to Starship Hospital and Waikato Hospital. The mother was taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance.
All three victims received intensive medical attention and require ongoing rehabilitation.
Horscroft admitted to police he had fallen asleep and caused the accident. He had no prior court convictions, the summary revealed.
Mr Best entered convictions to the charges and adjourned the case for a restorative justice conference pending sentencing on February 17.
