Driver who caused death disqualified

Dasheng Chen has been ordered to pay emotional-harm reparation for careless driving causing the death of Shauna Leitch. Photo / Stuart Munro

A man responsible for a crash which killed Whangarei woman Shauna Leitch has been ordered to pay emotional-harm reparation.

Dasheng Chen, of Wanganui, was sentenced to pay $5000 reparation and disqualified from driving for two years.

Chen, 55, had pleaded guilty to one charge of careless drivingcausing death and one charge of careless driving causinginjury before he appearedin the Whanganui District Court yesterday for sentencing.

On February 16, Chen was driving on State Highway 3 near Waitotara when his vehicle crossed the centre line on an approach to a left-hand corner before colliding with an oncoming car.

Judge David Cameron said the cars came to a halt on opposite sides of the highway.

The other driver, Mrs Leitch, died at the scene and her husband suffered a broken knee.

"When spoken to by police [Chen] was unable to explain how his car crossed the centre line of the highway," the judge said.

Defence lawyer Jamie Waugh called it a momentary lapse of attention: "He's been driving in New Zealand for years without incident. He is genuinelyremorseful."

Mr Waugh said Chen had attended a restorativejustice conference which had been successful.

Judge Cameron said Mrs Leitch's husband suffered immense ongoing grief but had forgiven Chen: "(The family) do not want the defendant sent to jail for this offending.

"I need to hold Mr Chen accountable for his actions."

Chen was sentenced to pay $5000 emotional-harm reparation and was disqualified from driving for two years.

He was remanded at large to reappear on September 21 for the court to check if the payment had been made. Chen will be re-sentenced if it has not.