A West Vancouver woman has been sentenced in New Zealand for causing a serious crash that left four of her passengers with significant injuries.
Renee Kelly Vanry, 57, appeared in Tauranga District Court last week, where she was convicted on four counts of careless driving causing injury, and one additional charge of careless driving. The charges stem from a March 23 two-vehicle collision near Taupō, on New Zealand’s North Island.
According to New Zealand Police, Vanry was driving a van along State Highway 5 in Rangitaiki around 10:30 a.m. when she attempted to overtake a slower vehicle near a left-hand bend with limited visibility. Her van crossed into the opposite lane and was struck by an oncoming Jeep.
The impact sent the van airborne, landing it in a roadside ditch. While both drivers escaped injury, four of Vanry’s passengers sustained serious injuries. Seven other passengers were treated at the scene and released the same day. Two of the injured passengers remain hospitalized in New Zealand, while two others have returned to Canada. All are facing lengthy recoveries.
Vanry, who took responsibility for her actions, was disqualified from driving for six months. She was also ordered to pay $1,000 in emotional harm reparations to each of the four injured passengers, and $1,500 to the driver of the other vehicle. Six other charges were withdrawn. Police emphasized that the outcome could have been far worse if not for the use of seatbelts by all involved.
Comments
NOTE: The North Shore Daily Post welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions.