Just days after his careless driving claimed his wife\u2019s life in Southland, a 76-year-old Italian tourist admitted the charge in court so he could fly home to grieve.<\/p>\n
Sandro Guatelli made an emotional appearance in Gore District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 75-year-old Patrizia Botti.<\/p>\n
His daughter, who was sitting in the front seat during the fatal Winton crash, stood with her father in the dock to translate.<\/p>\n
The family were on a family holiday in New Zealand when the tragedy occurred.<\/p>\n
On January 15, Guatelli was driving his wife, daughter and another relative back to Queenstown after a day trip in Bluff, the police summary said.<\/p>\n
His wife was sitting in the back seat.<\/p>\n
About 3pm, he failed to take a minor bend in the Winton township, continuing in a straight line for 10m, crossing about 75cm over the centre line.<\/p>\n
His daughter told the court she screamed when she noticed a truck coming towards them, but her father appeared “zoned out” and did not react.<\/p>\n
They collided with the front corner of the truck, causing significant damage to both vehicles, and Mrs Botti received fatal injuries.<\/p>\n
Police said Guatelli was travelling about 85kmh and had slowed to 50kmh as he entered Winton.<\/p>\n
When he spoke to police after, Guatelli was extremely remorseful, could not remember the accident and might have “blacked out”, the police summary said.<\/p>\n
Counsel Tanya McCullum said this was not a case of her client being unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road.<\/p>\n
Since their retirement, the couple had visited their daughter in Australia every year, for three months at a time, she said.<\/p>\n
“This is exceptionally devastating for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s going to be nothing worse than what this defendant is going through,” she said.<\/p>\n
Counsel explained the family were not able to take Mrs Botti\u2019s ashes home as they were yet to be released.<\/p>\n
Following sentencing, they were going to fly to Australia to be with family, before Guatelli returned to Balano, Italy.<\/p>\n
Guatelli\u2019s daughter was going to return to New Zealand to pick the ashes up later.<\/p>\n
Judge Russell Walker said cases like this were particularly tragic and acknowledged it was a difficult situation for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
“The penalty to be imposed can not possibly match the consequence of a moment\u2019s carelessness,” he said.<\/p>\n
The lapse in this case was careless, not intentional, he said.<\/p>\n
Already emotional, once that was translated to him, Guatelli began to sob.<\/p>\n
In translating the judge\u2019s condolences to the family, the daughter became emotional and her elderly father continued to cry.<\/p>\n
Guatelli was ordered to pay $2503 for towing and vehicle inspections and was disqualified from driving in New Zealand for a year.<\/p>\n
“Of course the court can\u2019t do anything that comes even close to … compensating the loss of life,” Judge Walker said.<\/p>\n
“I can\u2019t impose any penalty on you beyond the penalty you\u2019ve imposed on yourself.”<\/p>\n