A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A truck driver has admitted causing another motorist a head injury after rear-ending his utility vehicle when it turned into a driveway on Matawai Road.
Geoffrey Brent Morgan, 56, appeared on Monday in Gisborne District Court, pleading guilty to careless use of a vehicle causing injury.
Morgan, a professional driverfor about 30 years, was working, heading north of Matawai Road, when the incident happened mid-morning on February 20.
Counsel Leighvi Maynard told Judge Warren Cathcart that Morgan had previous convictions for drink-driving and driving while disqualified but this was the first time he had been involved in this type of offence. Morgan should have been travelling further behind the other driver and hadn’t left himself enough room to stop in time when the victim braked suddenly and turned into a driveway.
The mandatory six-month disqualification that attached to the charge would in itself have a significant impact for Morgan, preventing him from working for the duration. It would also likely affect his ability to pay reparation.
Morgan wanted to be sentenced immediately but Judge Cathcart said the court needed more information, especially about Morgan’s ability to make an emotional harm payment to the victim.
