A jetlagged man who crashed his car into a power pole in Christchurch, killing his wife, their three-year-old granddaughter and his cousin, has pleaded guilty to causing their deaths.
The crash happened two days after Geoff Eades' family arrived from Britain in September.
Eades, 62, was driving to New Brighton when he fell asleep.
Eades survived with moderate injuries but his wife Sera their granddaughter Iva Harper and cousin Val Bryan died.
He pleaded guilty three charges of careless driving causing death when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 150 hours' community work.
The judge said Eades had accepted full responsibility and had been punished enough through the loss of his family.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Fabish says given the accidental nature of the crash, community work was an appropriate sentence.
He says Eades was was travelling no more than 40km an hour when he hit the power pole and everyone in the car was wearing seatbelts.
