Four injured when driver fell asleep
A Chinese driver fell asleep on the highway through Arthur’s Pass and crashed into a tree, injuring his four passengers.
The group in the car driven by 34-year-old Chen Yang were all his friends, the Christchurch District Court was told yesterday when the Shanghai man admitted four charges of careless driving causing injury.
One of those injured in the November 29 crash on State Highway 73 remains in hospital and will need further surgery. One passenger had to be placed in an induced coma in Christchurch Hospital.
Police said Yang had five passengers – his wife, 10-month-old son, and three friends who were all visitors from China.
He drove off the road on a slight right-hand bend about 3pm and crashed into a tree which fell onto the roof of the van.
The front seat passenger received fractured ribs and a knock to the head, and spent the night in hospital.
A rear-seat passenger received head and chest injuries and was also in hospital overnight.
Another paassenger needed surgery for abdominal and chest injuries and was in critical condition in intensive care for a time.
The fourth passenger was flown to Christchurch Hospital with serious chest and abdominal injuries and was placed in an induced coma.
The baby was knocked out of his car seat but was not injured.
Yang received minor injuries and told police he had been feeling tired and may have fallen asleep.
Defence counsel Donald Dickson said a restorative justice meeting was not appropriate because Yang was leaving the country on December 31. Yang offered to pay reparations to the victims.
Judge Brian Callaghan noted Yang was remorseful and ordered him to pay $800 to the woman who was placed in an induced coma, and $400 each to the other victims, a total of $2000.
He disqualified him from driving for a year, but noted that would be “academic” because of the man’s booking to leave New Zealand next week.
Category: Focus
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