A man who caused a three-car accident may not regain the use of one of his arms.
Frederik Arie Verschoor, 69, was driving towards Bulls on April 3 when he saw what he thought was a large bird about to hit his car.
Verschoor reacted by ducking his head down into the passenger seat, causing his vehicle to cross the centre line.
He crashed into an oncoming vehicle before continuing on into the path of another.
The accident happened about 1km out from Bulls township while Verschoor was travelling between 90-100kmh.
The victim in the first car suffered a broken sternum, bruised lung, and a minor cut to the wrist, while the second victim suffered a broken sternum also, lung damage, and cartilage injury.
Verschoor was sentenced in Whanganui District Court yesterday on two charges of careless or inconsiderate operation of a vehicle, causing injury, to which he pleaded guilty.
Defence lawyer Stephanie Burlace said there had been a "very positive" Restorative Justice conference between Verschoor and the victims, and neither of the victims were seeking reparation.
Verschoor appeared in the court yesterday wearing a sling and carrying a crutch.
"There's still a question mark as to whether or not he'll get the use of that arm back," Ms Burlace said.
Her client was "very grateful no one was killed".
Judge David Cameron noted Verschoor had a previous conviction for similar offending.
He ordered Verschoor to pay $500 emotional harm reparation to each victim, and disqualified him from driving for nine months.