Nine years for man who caused triple road death

A Taranaki man who caused a triple fatality after fleeing a police car near Hawera in August was jailed for nine years today.

Raymond John Hansen, a 39-year-old Eltham farmhand, had pleaded guilty to three charges of manslaughter, two of drink-driving causing injury and one of dangerous driving.

Aaron Hurley, 22, Paul Cowper, 21, and Rochelle Lee Meads, 22, were killed when Hansen's car crashed into their van on an overbridge early on August 14.

In the High Court at New Plymouth this morning, Justice Paul Heath gave Hansen a five year non-parole period.

Hansen reached speeds of up to 180km/h before the crash, police said.

- NZPA