A Rotorua man who kept driving for 3km after hitting a Harley Davidson - injuring its two riders - has pleaded guilty to four charges.
Richard Ian Jacobs, 61, a builder of Hamurana, appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of careless driving causing injury, one of failing to stop and ascertain injury and one of careless driving. The collision happened on December 20 on Dalbeth Rd, Hamurana.
According to the police summary of facts, Jacobs was driving his Subaru Legacy westbound around 5pm when he pulled over to the left of the road, with the intention of doing a U-turn. The Harley Davidson travelling behind him began to pass Jacobs, who then attempted to do a U-turn and collided with the motorcycle. Jacobs failed to indicate or check the road was clear, the summary stated. The riders managed to stay on the motorcycle, which came to a stop.
Jacobs drove on with his damaged front wheel at such an obscure angle it left a continuous skid mark on the road for 3km, crossing the centre line a number of times.
He only stopped when a witness followed and signalled to him to pull over.
The male rider suffered ligament damage and severe swelling to his left leg, while his female passenger suffered a broken tibia in her left leg.
In explanation at the time, Jacobs told police he hadn't seen the motorcycle when he pulled out and he didn't stop afterwards as he thought the bike had continued on.
Duty solicitor Tim Braithwaite told the court Jacobs, who had no previous convictions, needed to travel to Perth before sentencing as his mother had recently died. Judge James Weir varied Jacobs' bail conditions so his passport could be returned to him.
The judge ordered the matter be referred for restorative justice before Jacobs reappears for sentencing on February 24.