Driver fined $1358 after hitting cyclist

Sophia Isabella Travers, 19, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury when she appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday.

A young woman who hit a cyclist in the car she was driving on High St in Masterton has been ordered to pay $1000 in emotional damages.

Sophia Isabella Travers, 19, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury when she appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday.

Travers was driving on High St, near Judds Rd, in the early hours of November 30 last year when she hit the cyclist whose left femur was dislocated in the collision.

Duty lawyer James Elliot said the incident happened at 1.45am.

He said because it was dark, and the cyclist was also wearing dark clothing, Travers didn't see the cyclist until the last minute.

"It was simply a momentary lapse of concentration ... she looked back up and the cyclist was upon her."

He said Travers was distressed by the situation and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Judge Barbara Morris said it was a "sad incident" which could have been worse but the cyclist had received a significant injury.

"This is probably a reminder to all of us how a moment of inattention can lead to tragedy."

Travers was ordered to pay reparations of $358 for damages to the bike and $1000 for emotional harm caused.

She was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Figures for 2013 show more than 800 cyclists were injured in crashes reported to police on New Zealand roads.