A pilot who ran a stop sign during a Lord of the Rings sightseeing road-trip and caused a car crash that seriously injured colleagues has today been ordered by a judge to pay $10,000 compensation to both victims.
Singapore Airlines pilot Benjamin Yonghao Wu, 32, earlier admitted two charges of reckless driving causing injury.
At his sentencing in Christchurch District Court today he was also banned from driving for 18 months.
He was with four other airline colleagues in a rental car when he ran a stop sign and hit a four wheel-drive towing a horse float at an intersection near Rolleston, south of Christchurch, last Wednesday morning.
Singapore Airlines chief steward Chew Weng Wai was a backseat passenger and not wearing a seatbelt when Wu failed to notice a stop sign.
He managed to slow down to about 40-50km/h.
But he later told police he didn't want to make an abrupt stop, because it would've been "uncomfortable" for his passengers.
The horse float, which had been travelling at 80km/h, braked heavily but was unable to avoid the collision.
Mr Chew's side took the brunt of the impact and he had to be cut free of the wreck.
He suffered bleeding and swelling to the brain as well as significant internal bleeding.
Steward Vanessa Leonara Savio Coelho, seated in the middle of the back seat, also wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
She had to be cut free by rescuers and underwent surgery the following day for injuries that included a fractured arm and shattered pelvis as well as spleen and bladder injuries.
Two other passengers were unhurt.
Wu, of Singapore, pleaded guilty to two reckless driving causing injury charges last Friday.
Today at Christchurch District Court, defence counsel Kerry Cook described the incident as a "tragic unintended accident with tragic consequences".
In what Mr Cook said was "a cruel twist", Wu wasn't meant to drive that day but was the only one up when the rental car arrived.
He was driving on an unfamiliar road, taking directions with others from the GPS system, and had not been speeding, Mr Cook said.
Wu saw the stop sign "very late" and "made a split second decision that was to have unfortunate long-term ramifications".
The injuries to those not wearing seatbelts were "horrendous", Mr Cook accepted.
Judge Stephen O'Driscoll noted that it was "perhaps ironic" that there was not injury to those wearing seatbelts.
He said that it would have been "prudent" for Wu as the driver to ensure his passengers were all wearing seatbelts.
But as Mr Cook outlined, there is no legal responsibility on the driver of a car to ensure passengers aged 15 and over to wear seatbelts.
Mr Wu, largely uninjured, tried to help his workmates at the scene and immediately acknowledge his wrongdoing.
He is genuinely remorseful, Mr Cook said, and has apologized face-to-face to Ms Coelho and Mr Chew's wife who "don't hold any grudges against him".
"He is significantly upset and distraught at the harm. He has a significant burden to carry," Mr Cook said.
Before today, Wu had already paid into the court trust account $15,000 for emotional harm reparation, with Mr Cook saying that although he knew it wouldn't fix all the harm he had caused, he hoped it would help in some small way.
It was fortunate there were no fatalities, said Judge O'Driscoll.
There had initially been "real concerns" as to whether Mr Chew would live, he said.
The judge had now seen a medical report which indicated he has suffered serious injuries that included a mild head injury.
He had 6-12 months of rehabilitation ahead of him, the court heard.
A victim impact statement from Mr Chew's wife said he had undergone surgery and would require further surgery, with his recovery in the future still being "unknown".
"It is obvious that he will face a very long recovery," Judge O'Driscoll said.
Ms Coelho would "bear scars for a long time" and was unsure over the future of her job, the judge said.
- Source: http://www.odt.co.nz
Benjamin Yonghao Wu
(3 News)
A Singapore Airlines pilot has been ordered to pay $20,000 in emotional harm payments to two of his colleagues injured in a serious road crash in Canterbury last week.
Benjamin Yonghao Wu, 32, was also disqualified from driving for 18 months after admitting two charges of reckless driving causing injury.
The foreign driver had rented a vehicle and was partway through a Lord of the Rings road trip with four colleagues last week when he ran a stop sign on the outskirts of Christchurch, at the intersection of Weedons Ross Rd and Maddisons Rd.
The Toyota ran directly into the path of a 4WD towing a horse float, which had been obscured from view by a shelterbelt and had no option but to plough into the side of the car at around 80km/h.
Two of the Singapore Airlines staff received serious injuries and had to be cut from the vehicle before being rushed into emergency surgery.
Chief steward Chew Weng Wai suffered significant brain injuries and internal bleeding, while steward Vanessa Leonara Savio Coehlo fractured her arm and shattered her pelvis, also injuring her spleen and bladder.
The two other passengers were unhurt and have since returned home.
Appearing before the Christchurch District Court for sentencing today, Wu stood with his head bowed and nodded periodically as Judge Stephen O'Driscoll imposed the penalty.
Wu's lawyer, Kerry Cook, told of the court of his client's "incredible remorse", saying he had apologized to the victims and their families for the "tragic unintended consequences".
The pilot was unfamiliar with the roads and saw the stop sign too late, he said. In a split second, he decided not to brake heavily to avoid discomfort for his passengers, and entered the intersection.
"This is an unintentional error at the lower end with unforeseen and significant consequences," Mr Cook said. "He is significantly upset and distraught at the harm [he has caused]."
Mr Cook said Wu had already paid $15,000 into the court's trust account for reparations, having taken out a loan to help the victims as much as he could. He had also admitted his wrongdoing at an early stage, admitting his guilt to emergency services as he helped others at the scene.
Judge O'Driscoll said both victims had months of rehabilitation ahead and would bear scars "for a long time".
"You were not concentrating on the road signs and it was a lapse of concentration on your part that has consequences for those in your car," he said.
"Whatever the reason [for the lapse], you did not keep the high degree of vigilance that is necessary for all motorists on our roads.
"You failed to obey a simple road rule and that is to stop at a compulsory stop."
Mr Cook confirmed Wu would be pay the remaining $5000 reparation as soon possible, on top of the $15000 already paid into the court trust.
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz
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