An Otautau relief milker, who was on his way home from his early morning milking shift when he drove through a give way sign – crashing into a concrete mixing truck and causing it to flip on its side – has been sentenced in the Invercargill District Court this morning. 

Community magistrate Simon Heale disqualified Mark Miller, 51, from driving for six months, and ordered him to pay $400.20 in reparation costs and $305 in emotional harm to the driver of the concrete truck. 

On October 17, 2020, Miller was travelling west along Mayfield Road, which is a 100 kilometer per hour speed area, towards Otautau around 8.30am.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The driver of the empty McGregor’s concrete mixing truck was travelling north on Drummond-Heddon-Bush Road, towards the intersection of Drummond-Heddon-Bush Road and Mayfield Road. 

This intersection is controlled by a give way sign on Mayfield Road. 

According to the police summary of facts, the truck driver saw the defendant to his right, approaching the give way sign at speeds of around 60 to 70 kilometers per hour.

The defendant “did not appear to slow down,” instead ploughing straight into the side of the concrete mixing truck.

The impact was so forceful it flipped the truck onto its side, and it slid across the road for approximately 40 metres.

The driver of the truck fell out of his seat from inside the cab and slid along the tar-sealed road, causing significant grazing that required daily dressing changes for two weeks afterwards.

The victim also sustained damaged to the rotator cuff in his shoulder and “multiple minor cuts and scrapes to his extremities.”

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

He was taken to hospital but discharged later that evening. 

Miller received very serous injuries and was flown to Dunedin hospital where he was placed in an induced coma for a week. 

A blood sample taken at this time which found traces of Tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid identified in cannabis.

In explanation, the defendant said he didn’t remember the crash or waking up that morning to do the milking.