Ghomer Yaris Dulay, 46, appeared in the Christchurch District Court for sentencing on Wednesday after he entered guilty pleas in April to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing injury.
On 5 August last year, Dulay planned to take his family to see snow for the first time. They left Christchurch in the early afternoon. Then on Rakaia Terrace Rd near Hororata, Dulay hit the accelerator rather than the brake when he hit a gravel surface at about 120/km/h.
His two youngest children were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The New Zealand Herald reported Dulay was today sentenced to three months of community detention as well as nine months of supervision. He has also lost his licence for a year.
The Herald reported the court heard how Dulay is now caring for his eldest daughter who was severely injured.
Judge Mark Callaghan commended Dulay for putting her above his own grief he was facing, the Herald reported.
Dulay moved to New Zealand from the Philippines in 2015. He married his wife Virginita Torregosa in 2019.
The 46-year-old's three children Christine, 22, Khatricia, 19, and Ian, 17, came to New Zealand in May last year with the intention of studying and working.
On 5 August last year, Dulay was following GPS instructions from a cellphone and drove along Rakaia Terrace Rd.
The road changes from sealed road to a gravel surface.
"The defendant hit the accelerator rather than the brake when he hit the gravel surface at about 120 kilometres per hour," a summary of facts said.
"Approximately 2.8 seconds after entering the gravel section of the road, the defendant lost control of the vehicle. The rear of the vehicle swung clockwise and . . . the vehicle veered to the right-hand side of the road, across a grass area and the passenger side struck a tree. The vehicle spun around the tree and came to a stop on its roof.
"The defendant got out of the vehicle and pulled . . . Torregosa and Christine from the vehicle. [Dulay] was not able to pull . . . Khatricia and Ian from the vehicle."
Dulay's two youngest children were pronounced dead at the scene.
"The nature of the injuries to the victims Torregosa and Christine were such that Torregosa spent 10 nights in hospital with impact injuries to her left side."
