Top architect pleads guilty to careless driving charges

Fire crews used special heavy-lifting gear to free the man from under the vehicle. Photo / Daniel Hines

A top architect who hit a cyclist, pinning him under his Porsche SUV, has admitted responsibility over the incident.

Andrew James Campbell Patterson, 55, appeared in Auckland District Court this morning charged with careless driving causing injury to Peter Redmond.

Defence lawyer Michael Lloyd initially asked for an adjournment so he could enlist the services of an expert to review the police's evidence and entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client.

Architect Andrew Patterson. Photo / Richard Robinson

But shortly afterwards, the pair returned to court and Patterson pleaded guilty to the charge.

During the incident on May 27, members of the public desperately tried to lift the defendant's Porsche SUV off the critically injured cyclist but fire crews eventually needed to use special heavy-lifting gear to free the man.

Patterson, director of Patterson Associates architecture firm, was featured in an article in World Architectural News three years ago as one of five architects "whose directional ideas are helping to shape the future of world architecture".

According to his website, during his career he has won the New Zealand Institute of Architects' highest award, the New Zealand Supreme Award for Architecture, five times.

Patterson was driving down Sarsfield St in the affluent suburb of Herne Bay, where he lives, when he hit Mr Redmond.

Cyclist Peter Redman with his partner Anna. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A police spokeswoman said the car and the cyclist were travelling in the same direction when the accident occurred.

Witnesses told the New Zealand Herald the victim was asking people to get the vehicle off him.

Ponsonby Fire Station Officer Brett Goodhue said Mr Redmond's position made it difficult for paramedics to assess him and the car's wheel was removed to improve access.

"He had gone between the tyres in the middle of the car," Mr Goodhue said at the time.

"He was conscious and telling us to hurry up and get the car off him."

Patterson passed on his apologies to the victim.

"I'm really sorry about the accident and wish the absolute best for Mr Redmond and his family. It was a horrible reminder of how careful we need to be when driving in Auckland," he said.

"We share our roads with cyclists and while we need to fully support making cities safer for cycling, we all need to take responsibility in our cars."

He will be sentenced next month and faces a maximum of three months imprisonment or a fine of up $4500, with a mandatory six-month driving ban.