Courier driver 'not the one being trained'

The curious case of the courier driver who lost her licence after crashing into a colleague's vehicle as they fought over who would get to a job first, has taken another twist.

In Palmerston North District Court Melissa Rose Te Amo pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing injury earlier this week.

She told Judge Gerard Lynch she was on her first day on the job at City Sprint Couriers when she crashed into the back of her colleague's car as he tried to beat her to a job so he could get paid for it.

She only had a learner licence and was not displaying L-plates.

The impact of the crash caused Te Amo's passenger to fly forward, breaking her arm.

Te Amo told the court the injured passenger was a fully-licensed colleague who was in the front passenger seat to show her the ropes. She had forgotten to put the L-plates on, she said.

But the mother of the injured passenger has contacted the Manawatu Standard disputing Te Amo's version of events.

Wendy Fletcher said it was actually her daughter, Amanda Fletcher, who was being trained, not Te Amo.

Mrs Fletcher said Te Amo had been driving all day, not just on the afternoon when the accident happened.

Te Amo could not be reached for comment last night, and her mother, Carolyn Te Amo, who is also the manager of City Sprint Couriers, said she did not have her daughter's cellphone number.

But Carolyn Te Amo said on Thursday – after her daughter appeared in court – she was aware her daughter had been on her learner's but was giving her a chance at the company.

She claimed her daughter was not meant to be driving that day but had offered to drive because Miss Fletcher had a headache.

But last night she agreed with comments made by Mrs Fletcher that Amanda was the one being trained, not Melissa, and that "maybe" the police had made an error when taking down the statement.

Melissa was not an employee of the company but sometimes helped show new employees the ropes, she said.

Judge Lynch sentenced Te Amo on Thursday to 80 hours' community work, to pay emotional reparation of $750 and took away her licence for seven months.

- © Fairfax NZ News