17 Jun 2014

Tourist fined, banned for fatal crash

6:10 am on 17 June 2014

The driver of a campervan that collided with a car killing one of its occupants has been disqualified from driving and fined $5500.

Robyn Derrick died at the scene of the crash on the Coromandel Peninsula at Queen's Birthday Weekend and her husband, who was driving, was seriously injured after American Cody Dickey's rented campervan crossed the centreline and hit their vehicle.

Dickey, 23, was disqualified from driving for 18 months when he appeared before Community Magistrate Sue Hovell in the Hamilton District Court on Monday. He was also ordered to pay the Derrick family $5500 - the maximum fine.

He had pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving causing death and one charge of careless driving causing injury.

The court was told the Derrick family had met Dickey, accepted he was remorseful and had forgiven him. They hugged as Dickey left the courtroom.

Ms Hovell told Dickey she was in no doubt that he was horrified to be responsible for Mrs Dickey's death and that it would remain with him forever.

The crash was one of two fatals involving overseas drivers at Queen's Birthday Weekend. In the second, Sally Summerfield, 49, her daughter Ella, 12, and Abigail Hone, also 12, died in a crash at the intersection of Thompson's Track and Somerton Road, near Rakaia.

Mrs Summerfield's husband, Shane Summerfield, was driving and was seriously injured.

Dutch tourist Johannes Jacobus Appelman, 52, has been charged with three counts of careless driving causing death and one count of careless driving causing injury.

Mr Appelman, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, will reappear in Christchurch District Court on 10 July.