Architect of his own downfall

Andrew James Campbell Patterson. Photo / Supplied

A top architect who pinned a cyclist under his Porsche SUV and drove on thinking it was a road cone will not be behind the wheel for six months.

Andrew James Campbell Patterson, 55, appeared in Auckland District Court this afternoon after previously pleading guilty to careless driving causing injury to Peter Redmond.

During the incident on May 27, members of the public desperately tried to lift the defendant's vehicle off the critically injured cyclist but fire crews were eventually needed to use special heavy-lifting gear to free the man.

Patterson, director of Patterson Associates architecture firm, was featured in an article in World Architectural News three years ago as one of five architects "whose directional ideas are helping to shape the future of world architecture".

According to his website, during his career he has won the New Zealand Institute of Architects' highest award, the New Zealand Supreme Award for Architecture, five times.

Patterson was turning out of his steep drive on Sarsfield St in Herne Bay, where he lives, when he hit Mr Redmond.

The court heard how there were roadworks being undertaken at the time and he thought he had hit a cone.

Thinking he could dislodge it, Patterson drove on.

"I'll never forget being dragged all those metres and being trapped, struggling to breathe," Mr Redmond told the court today.

"I thought death was imminent."

Judge Evangelos Thomas said Patterson had a poor driving record but his last conviction had come more than 20 years ago.

"There's nothing to suggest you're still an irresponsible driver," he said.

The judge accepted defence counsel John Billington QC's submission that his client was deeply remorseful and had been traumatised by the incident.

Mr Billington said there had been a very positive restorative justice conference and a confidential payment had been made to Mr Redmond.

In his victim impact statement the cyclist estimated costs incurred as a result of the incident were at more than $26,000 and would be at least $28,000 by the end of the year
As well as banning Patterson from driving for six months, Judge Thomas also ordered him to pay another $3000 to the victim for emotional harm.

Mr Billington said the defendant had also made a payment to Cycle Action Auckland and would make ongoing efforts through his work to ensure the safety of cyclists.

Patterson's firm had a role in working on the Grafton Gully Cycleway project and the lawyer said as a result of the accident his client hoped to be more involved in the future.

Despite the ordeal suffered by Mr Redmond, which included eight broken bones in his chest, a lacerated liver, dislocated knee, a punctured and collapsed lung and severe abrasions to his hip and shoulder, he said he felt "exceptionally lucky to be alive", especially with his healthy three-month-old son Kit.