The Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot who pleaded guilty to reckless driving in an accident in New Zealand in which two of his co-workers were seriously injured has been ordered to pay NZ$10,000 (S$9,998) to each victim, according to reports in New Zealand.
Benjamin Yonghao Wu, 32, was also banned from driving for 18 months.
During his sentencing at the Christchurch District Court on Friday (Oct 10), Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said Wu was lucky to be alive, Radio New Zealand reported.
Wu was driving a rental car on Oct 1 with four of his colleagues when he ran a stop sign and crashed into a four-wheel drive towing a horse float near Rolleston, south of Christchurch.
According to APNZ, he managed to slow down to about 40 to 50kmh, but later told police that he did not make an abrupt stop because it would have been “uncomfortable” for his passengers.
Two of the passengers, chief steward Chew Weng Wai and stewardess Vanessa Leonara Savio Coelho, suffered serious injuries in the accident. Both were sitting in the backseat and not wearing seatbelts, the court heard.
Mr Chew, who suffered swelling to the brain and significant internal bleeding, had to be cut free of the wreck, APNZ reported. Ms Coelho suffered a fractured arm and shattered pelvis as well as spleen and bladder injuries. She has since been discharged from Christchurch Hospital, according to the report.
Two other passengers were unhurt and have returned to Singapore.
“TRAGIC ACCIDENT WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES”
Wu’s lawyer Kerry Cook described the incident as a "tragic unintended accident with tragic consequences". APNZ quoted Mr Cook as saying that Wu was unfamiliar with the roads and was taking directions from the GPS system. He saw the stop sign “very late” and "made a split-second decision that was to have unfortunate long-term ramifications".
Judge O'Driscoll noted it would have been "prudent" for Wu as the driver to ensure his passengers were all wearing seatbelts, although there was no legal responsibility for him to do so.
The report also quoted Mr Cook as saying that Wu, who was not injured in the accident, tried to help his colleagues at the scene and immediately took responsibility for the accident. He is “genuinely remorseful”, and has apologised to Ms Coelho and Mr Chew’s wife, who “don’t hold any grudges against him”.
"He is significantly upset and distraught at the harm. He has a significant burden to carry," Mr Cook said.
Before the court’s ruling on Friday, Wu had already paid NZ$15,000 into the court’s trust account for “emotional harm reparation”, the report said.
In a statement released to APNZ after sentencing, Wu said he took responsibility for the accident. "I sincerely apologise for all that has happened. It was never my intention for any of this to happen. I take responsibility as the driver of the car and I am truly sorry for what has happened.
"I am thankful that everyone involved in this accident is showing signs of improvement and recovery and I just wish we can move on from here so my friends and colleagues can focus on becoming healthy and well again."
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