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The Bay of Plenty truck driver accused of dangerous driving in relation to the bus crash in Ruatoki that injured 35 children has pleaded guilty to one amended charge.
Joe Nika Morehu, 42, was originally facing 16 charges of dangerous driving causing injury after his logging truck and trailer slammed into the back of the school bus when it slowed on Reids Road on September 5, 2011.
This was amended to one representative charge of careless driving causing injury to 16 school children.
The accident scene involving a school bus and logging truck in the Ruatoki Valley. Photo: Whakatane Beacon.
Morehu pleaded guilty to the amended charge when he appeared before Judge Robert Wolff in the Whakatane District Court this morning.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of exceeding the 5.5 hours permitted driving; one charge of producing a log book containing errors; and one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol – in relation to separate incident.
The impact of the unladen logging truck caused severe damage to the rear of the bus, knocking it into a roadside paddock.
The injured children were pupils from Whakatane and Trident High Schools and primary students from Taneatua. They were taken to Whakatane, Tauranga and Rotorua hospitals, with a two more seriously injured transported to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Morehu was remanded on bail for sentencing on July 4.
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Posted on 24-04-2012 21:52 | By CJB666
Its utterly unacceptable to drive any vehicle under the influence of alcohol - period. But driving a logging tuck under the influence is not only criminal but incredibly stupid and selfish. I hope that the guy gets slammed into prison for a VERY LONG time. The poor wee mites of children who were hurt will never forget their lucky escape. Hmph - lucky? - two or more were seriously injured. When will New Zealanders grow up and realise that alcohol and driving machinery does not mix? Oh but wait a minute - we have the ridiculous Accident Compensation Scheme that removes all responsibility for injury to others from the perpetrators. So the parents of the kids cannot even sue the driver or his employer who caused the crash. Appalling.