Woman denies texting at time of deadly crash

A Carterton woman who pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, at an earlier court appearance, is continuing to deny police allegations she was texting at the time of the crash.

Amanda Jane Rose, 18, appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday and was tearful during her disputed-facts hearing.

The issue was over what time Rose sent a text message to her boyfriend on the day of the crash.

Defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt said Rose would say the message was sent when she was about to leave Masterton McDonald's, before the crash, but that its receival was delayed. But prosecuting Sergeant Garry Wilson argued Rose sent the text in the minutes leading up to the crash.

"The defendant denied texting and driving but evidence shows that she was," Mr Wilson said.

He said there were "milliseconds" between pushing the send button and it being received.

"Unless they are not in a coverage area. That's probably going to be one of the issues here, whether the CBD of Masterton is within the network coverage," Mr Wilson said.

Rose was driving the car 16-year-old Tegan Moyes was thrown from after it rolled on the southern approach to the Opaki overbridge, on February 21.

Miss Moyes received head and spinal injuries and was flown to Wellington Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Judge Bill Hastings adjourned the hearing for mobile company 2degrees to supply information about coverage and timing.

The hearing will proceed on October 18.