Driver ran from cries of dying girl

Driver Whiti Hepi admitted manslaughter. Picture / Nigel Marple

The driver of a car that plunged off Hamilton's Cobham Bridge into the Waikato River, killing three teenage girls, heard one of them screaming for help from the water but left her to die.

Hayley Forbes was the only girl to escape from the car after the crash in the early hours of February 12.

Yesterday, as a summary of facts was read to the Hamilton District Court, it emerged that as she struggled in the water with a badly broken leg, the drunk driver and a friend, who had been the front-seat passenger, left her to die.

Whiti Wairehu Dyne Hepi, 21, pleaded guilty to Hayley's manslaughter when he appeared in court yesterday.

He also pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Kristen Armstrong, 14, and Sandra Tungia, 16, who were left trapped in the car's back seat after the crash.

Hayley's father and Kristen's grandfather, John Forbes, said he was glad Hepi had done the right thing by pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Hepi had apologised for taking Hayley's and Kristen's lives but their families could not understand why he left Hayley.

"That will always be a thing of bitterness," Mr Forbes said.

"I think that's really what hurts my wife most. Our daughter had actually come out of that accident and most likely surfaced and there was nobody there but these two boys and they abandoned her."

Hayley's body was found two days later, 7km from the crash site.

Mr Forbes said the crash was every parent's nightmare.

Hepi should not have been driving and the accident should never have happened, but he said his daughter and granddaughter also had choices.

It is understood Hepi is yet to apologise to Sandra's family. But he he may get his chance.

Judge Denise Clark yesterday remanded him on bail, ordering victim impact statements and pre-sentence reports and referring him for a restorative justice conference with the girls' families.

A police summary of facts read out in court said Hepi had been drinking heavily on the night of the crash.

He had met up with the girls in town and offered them a ride home.

Being the most sober, Hepi was designated the driver.

"During this journey the defendant was weaving across the road erratically, and at times driving at high speed.

"All the while the defendant was drinking beer from a bottle he was holding in his hand," the summary of facts said.

Hepi dropped two male passengers off near Steele Park and headed towards Cobham Bridge.

Police said when he rounded the bend on to the bridge he was travelling at more than 100km/h in an 80km/h area with a blood-alcohol level of up to twice the legal limit.

The car hurtled off the bridge and when it hit the water Hepi escaped, swimming to one side of the river and his friend to the other.

"The defendant went to an associate's address but did not alert any emergency services to the crash or the plight of his passengers.

"He simply waited at the address, where his family later picked him up and took him home."

His friend stopped a passing courier van and the driver alerted police.

When police interviewed Hepi he admitted his driving was dangerous and stupid.

"He also stated that he had had 'heaps' to drink before driving," the summary of facts said.

Hepi will be sentenced in the High Court at Hamilton on July 14.