Flaunty on careless driving charge over death of motorcyclist

Warren Flaunty. Photo / Supplied

West Auckland local body politician Warren Flaunty has been charged over a crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist this year.

Blair Titmus, 34, died in April after his motorcycle and a car being driven by Flaunty collided on Hobsonville Rd, West Auckland.

Mr Titmus was then run over by another vehicle and died at the scene.

A week after the crash, the Herald reported that Flaunty was the driver of one of the vehicles.

He said at the time that the incident was under investigation by police and it wasn't appropriate for him to make any comment.

Now, after a serious crash investigation, police have charged Flaunty with careless driving causing death, which carries a penalty of up to three months' imprisonment or a $4500 fine.

He is to appear in the Waitakere District Court on Monday.

Flaunty, who told the Herald yesterday he had no comment to make because the case was before the courts, has been a businessman and pharmacist for 40 year, and is New Zealand's mos -elected local government politician.

Last year, he was elected to the local boards of Rodney, Upper Harbour and Henderson . He was also re-elected to the Waitemata District Health Board and the Waitakere Licensing Trust.

Flaunty would not say whether he had told any of the boards or trust about the charges. But a spokesman for Mayor Len Brown said he was not aware that charges had been laid until told by the Herald.

He later said the mayor was unable to make any other comments "as the matter is sub judice".

The chairman of the Upper Harbour board, Brian Neeson, said he also wasn't aware charges had been laid and that it was too early to say if they would have any effect on Flaunty's position as a board member.

A politician can lose his or her local board roles only if convicted of a criminal offence carrying a sentence of more than two years' imprisonment.

Mr Titmus's father, Gavin, said he would not be attending the first court appearance as he and his wife lived out of Auckland.

Mr Titmus' girlfriend Donelle Lawson was one of the first on the scene, after being unable to contact him, arriving while police were starting their scene examination.