Fine and loss of licence for driver

A Timaru rally car driver who collided at high speed with a school bus has lost his licence for 15 months.

Peter Swaney, 56, was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for 15 months for dangerous driving causing injury after he appeared before Judge Brian Callaghan for sentence in the Timaru District Court yesterday.

Swaney and a passenger were travelling along Beaconsfield Rd in a rally car about 3.30pm on October 12 last year, when their vehicle struck a school bus which had pulled out to turn onto Rockdale Rd.

Both Swaney and his passenger were seriously injured in the crash, and the uninsured car, valued between $80,000 and $100,000 was written off.

Swaney was unable to remember what happened during the crash.

However, a police investigation into the crash determined Swaney's car was travelling between no less than 119kmh to 129kmh in a 80kmh zone.

Police prosecutor Kevin McErlain said the investigation determined if Swaney had been travelling at the speed limit he would have been able to stop in time.

Defence counsel Laurence Herbke said although Swaney accepted his action was dangerous, the actions of the bus driver were contributory in that she had pulled out into the intersection when she could see Swaney coming.

The bus driver has been charged with two counts of careless driving causing injury in a matter still before the court.

In sentencing Swaney, Judge Callaghan said the incident had been very serious, and even if the bus driver was suggested to be somewhat careless, it would be hard to think a car would be going faster than 80kmh in the area.

- © Fairfax NZ News