14 Nov 2017

Man pleads guilty to manslaughter over crash

12:19 pm on 14 November 2017

A Hamilton man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after crashing his car in Cambridge while being pursued by police

A police car parked on the street.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The crash killed a 27-year-old and seriously injured two others in the car.

Cameron Thomas, 34, appeared in the High Court in Hamilton today and admitted a charge of manslaughter, two of reckless driving causing injury and one of failing to stop to render assistance.

Members of the public saw Thomas driving his BMW erratically earlier on the night of the crash and called police.

Officers chased the vehicle which went through two intersections, collided with a stationary car and rolled, killing passenger Shane Hohepa and leaving the other two passengers with injuries.

Thomas received minor injuries and ran away from the car, but was caught further down the road. He admitted drinking alcohol and that he was a disqualified driver.

He was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on 12 December.