An Indian tourist yesterday admitted in the Queenstown District Court four counts of dangerous driving causing injury, relating to a crash on State Highway 6 near Glenda Dr on June 22.
Mohit Dhanjbhai Patel (22), building contractor, of India, also admitted dangerous driving earlier that day on the Lake Hawea-Albert Town road, before Judge Michael Turner.
Prosecuting Sergeant Grant Gerken said Patel had been travelling around New Zealand with his wife and two other couples since June 13. All three couples had been recently married and the holiday was serving as honeymoons.
The group left Franz Josef at 10.30am on June 22, for Queenstown.At 2.30pm Patel was observed overtaking another vehicle on a sweeping left-hand corner near Maungawera, on State Highway 6, near Wanaka.
About 5pm, Patel was driving south towards Queenstown and had just crossed the Lower Shotover Bridge approaching the Glenda Dr intersection at Frankton in a 100kmh area, with double yellow "no passing" lines the length the road.
Patel drifted to the right-hand side, crossing into the oncoming north-bound lane, forcing one vehicle to take evasive action and then hitting a vehicle driven by Queenstown electrician Scott McIvor head-on.
"The impact caused massive damage to both vehicles and shunted the victim's vehicle back into the left gutter," Sgt Gerken said.
Mr McIvor fractured his right ankle, sustained a broken fibula and serious lacerations to the lip and face while the defendant's wife received a concussion and injuries to her left side and was taken to Lakes District HospitalPatel received severe abdominal injuries and was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital while his passengers were also admitted to Lakes District Hospital with injuries.
Alcohol was not a factor.
Patel was spoken to by police two weeks later, and in explanation stated "he could not remember anything after leaving Wanaka".
Defence counsel Mike Newell said of Patel "the only reasonable explanation is that he feel asleep at the wheel".
Patel and one of the other couples had extended their time in New Zealand at a cost of about $20,000, while Patel's parents had flown to Queenstown to be with him.
The rental car insurance did not cover Patel for dangerous or careless driving. Therefore, he was liable to Hertz for about $25,000.
Mr Newell said at issue was the reparation to be paid in New Zealand and Patel was in a position to make a lump-sum payment of between $5000 and $10,000 to Mr McIvor yesterday.
After several adjournments, Judge Turner told Patel he proposed to deal with him by way of a fine, emotional harm reparation and reparation, which would cost about $9000 along with a disqualification.
Patel was remanded at large until this morning to make the money available to the court.
