Tyre changing tragedy accused faces fate in court today

Nicole Marie Reynolds in an earlier appearance in the District Court of Tauranga. Photo/file

The Tauranga woman who ran over and killed two people and seriously injured another while on stolen drugs faces her fate in court today.

Nicole Reynolds, 40, will be sentenced in the District Court at Tauranga today, after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of drug-driving causing death and a further charge of drug-driving causing injury to Lance Carter.

Reynolds will also be sentenced on a theft charge relating to her stealing two pill bottles from a former client's home - a charge Reynolds was found guilty of at a defended hearing.

The driving charges stemmed from a crash on State Highway 29A between Baypark and Maungatapu on July 29 last year which happened while Mr Carter and his best mate Kenny McCrae were changing the tyre on a SUV owned by Mr Carter's partner Leigh Rhodes.

Reynolds had taken methadone and also had two other Class B controlled drugs in her system before she ploughed into the trio.

She had been seen weaving within her lane before she struck Ms Rhodes, who was waving a white spare wheel cover in the air to alert approaching motorists to the hazard.

Reynolds' vehicle then smashed into Mr Carter and his friend.

Mr McCrae died instantly and Ms Rhodes died in Tauranga Hospital later that day.

Mr Carter was hospitalised with extensive leg injuries and nearly died on the operating table. He is learning to walk again.