A Rotorua builder has been ordered to pay $2400 after a car crash in Northland which left a man seriously injured.
Bryan Gregory Collins, 49, who is a director of Rotorua building firm CG Collins, appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday for sentencing after previously pleading guilty
to a charge of careless driving causing injury.
Police says Collins was driving on State Highway 1 at Kamo on April 26 when he pulled out to overtake a vehicle, crossed over a broken yellow centre line and collided head-on with an oncoming car.
As a result of the crash the man in the oncoming car suffered severe head injuries, broken bones in both feet and multiple cuts.
Collins' lawyer Curtis Bidois described Collins' actions as a momentary lapse of attention.
He had been unaware there was a broken yellow line or that there was an oncoming car.
He was a first offender and had driven for 34 years without incident. He was a longstanding member of Rotary and made voluntary contributions to the community.
Collins was extremely remorseful for what had happened and wanted to meet with the victim via a restorative justice programme but the victim did not want to take part.
Judge Jocelyn Munro said yesterday the victim spent three and a half weeks in Auckland Hospital and then time in a wheelchair. He is still receiving physiotherapy.
"This accident has caused a huge impact on the victim both emotionally, physically and in terms of his work."
He had lost income and there were a lot of costs associated with his recovery.
Judge Munro noted Collins' remorse and his early guilty plea but said his actions which led to the crash displayed a significant degree of carelessness.
Judge Munro ordered a letter written by Collins to the victim be sent to him.
Collins was fined $2000, half of which was to go to the victim.
He was also ordered pay $400 reparation to the victim and disqualified from driving for six months.
