Jockey causes serious crash

A New Zealand apprentice jockey plying her trade in Australia has been convicted of careless driving causing injury, after following her father’s instructions led to her failing to give way.

Defence lawyer Mark Alderdice told the Palmerston North District Court yesterday that Rebecca May Goldsbury flew from Australia specially for the court hearing.

Goldsbury, a 25-year-old apprentice jockey who last raced on Sunday on the Sunshine Coast, pleaded guilty to the charge.

She was driving near Woodville at 6.10pm on July 20, with her father in the front passenger seat.

They were heading to Palmerston North and Goldsbury tried to bypass Woodville by turning down a side street, but failed to give way to a car travelling straight.

The other driver had no choice but to hit Goldsbury’s car.

Both cars were damaged beyond repair.

The driver of the other car suffered broken bones in her arms and legs.

Goldsbury told police her father suddenly told her to turn, so she did.

Alderdice said Goldsbury had apologised to the victim and saved up $1000 for them.

There was a slight dip in the road at the intersection and Goldsbury had been concentrating on the vehicle behind the victim’s, he said.

Judge Stephanie Edwards said the emotional-harm reparation offer was significant and appropriate.

‘‘The accident has had a major impact on [the victim],’’ the judge said.

The victim’s health problems before the crash were made worse, and being unable to replace their car meant they had to move house, the judge said.

Furthermore, they needed multiple surgeries and spent six months in a wheelchair while recovering from the crash-inflicted injuries.

But in their victim impact statement, referred to by the judge, the victim said they wanted the offending marked in a way that did not stop Goldsbury living her life.

‘‘That is, really, to her credit,’’ the judge said.

Goldsbury was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $1000 emotionalharm reparation.