Pedestrian killed in crash: Driver fell asleep at wheel, court hears

The scene of the crash. Photo / Daniel Hines

A Chinese couple who had been married for 40 years were tragically torn apart by an unlicensed driver who fell asleep at the wheel, a court has heard.

Jie Zheng Chen and his wife, Jie Wu, came to New Zealand with a view to moving permanently, but on February 9 a walk through Royal Oak abruptly changed that.

The couple were using a pedestrian crossing on Mt Albert Rd when 41-year-old Falelima Sefo ploughed into them.

Chen died in hospital, while Wu required surgery on her leg before being discharged.

Sefo -- who was assisted in court by a Samoan interpreter -- was sentenced in Auckland District Court this afternoon to 200 hours of community work, nine months supervision and was ordered to pay the surviving victim nearly $5000.

The court heard he had been painting throughout the previous night and was supposed to be resting when his son needed a ride to work.

Sefo's wife, who was in court in support of her husband, was supposed to play chauffeur but was delayed coming home from her job and so the task fell to the defendant.

After dropping the teenager off, Sefo was driving home but the late night, combined with alcohol in his system, saw him fall asleep at the wheel.

When he woke up, the car in front had stopped to let Wu and Chen cross the road.

To avoid hitting the vehicle, he swerved but rammed straight into the Chinese couple.

Judge Nicola Mathers said the fact Sefo had no licence was a significantly aggravating factor, as was the fact he had alcohol in his system.

Though his breath alcohol level of 286 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath exceeded the new limit, it takes a reading of at least 400 for the charge to be elevated to drink driving causing death.

Sefo's lawyer described him as a "hard-working family man" who had been attending church almost every day since the incident.

He had also stopped drinking, he said.

"I accept your sincere remorse for what you've done, which will live with you always," the judge said.

But she had a stern message for road users.

"People are utterly irresponsible on today's crowded roads when they know, or ought to know, they're about to fall asleep," Judge Mathers said.

"The consequences are well known and tragically demonstrated by this case."

Sefo was also banned from driving for a year and will spend nearly three years paying off the reparation in weekly instalments of $30.