Man jailed over fatal crash

Ambulance crew attend to one of the victims involved in the fatal crash between Whangarei and Kawakawa. Photo / APN

A Northland man has started a two-and-a-half year jail term for killing his partner and a man when his unwarranted and unregistered car crashed into another.

Caleb Mormon Reo Erueti, 27, appeared for sentence in the Whangarei District Court today after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of dangerous driving causing death and three of dangerous driving causing injury after the crash on State Highway 1, Hukerenui, on February 17, this year.

Erueti's partner Joanne Whare, 24, of Kaikohe, died in Whangarei Hospital after the crash while Murray Hemara, 53, of Rawhiti, who was a passenger in the other car, died at the scene.

Mr Hemara's partner Ti Miringa Hoori and Erueti and Whare's children, aged 2 and 3 at the time, were injured in the crash.

An examination found Erueti's car had two bald rear tyres that wouldn't have passed a warrant of fitness test, and the speedometer and lights were not working.

After the crash Erueti told police he was emotional after they missed a hospital appointment and admitted that this may have impacted on his driving.

Judge Stan Thorburn sentenced Erueti to two-and-a- half years' jail on the two dangerous driving causing death charges and 12 months jail on the remaining three, with all terms to run concurrently.

The judge said the crash had also impacted greatly on Erueti's physical and mental health.

He also disqualified Erueti from driving for five years.