A judge has told a man who threw a bottle through the windscreen of a large, moving milk tanker that it “beggars belief” why he thought that might be an okay thing to do.
Corrie Roy Curnow has been ordered to fork out almost $4000 in reparation after the incident in February this year, prompted by what he claimed was the tanker driver causing the vehicle he was in, to “almost hit another vehicle”.
Curnow admitted a charge of endangering life and public safety by criminal nuisance which followed the “road rage” incident on the highway north of Nelson.
Curnow was a passenger in a Toyota Landcruiser heading north on State Highway 6 towards Hira, at around 6.45am on Monday, February 16.
Curnow’s lawyer, Jacqui Van Schalkwyk, told the Nelson District Court this week that the Landcruiser was initially behind the truck which moved into the dual passing lane, as the Landcruiser also attempted to pass.
Van Schalkwyk said Curnow alleged the manoeuvre almost involved an oncoming vehicle.
The Landcruiser managed to get past the tanker, and the driver pulled over into a driveway ahead.
Curnow got out of the passenger side of the vehicle with a bottle in his hand and waited for the 17.3 tonne Fonterra milk truck, the police summary of facts said.
He walked behind the Landcruiser and threw the bottle at the oncoming vehicle, which smashed a hole through the windscreen.
The truck driver’s vision was obscured but he was able to pull over about 100 metres ahead.
Curnow returned to the Landcruiser and left the scene.
He later told police he threw the bottle because the truck driver was a "tosser" and that he almost hit another vehicle.
Van Schalkwyk said Curnow acknowledged his actions could have led to a more serious outcome.
Judge Jo Rielly acknowledged the “very deliberate act” was “very out of character” for someone who had remained out of trouble for years.
Judge Rielly said as a road user for many years, she could accept that if something dangerous happened suddenly, it could be seriously frightening.
“I can’t understand why you would think it’s okay to commit an act like this in vengeance, and thank goodness it didn’t cause a catastrophic crash,” she said.
Judge Rielly said Curnow’s remorse was evident in the reparation he had offered to pay, including $2900 towards the windscreen repair costs and $1000 in emotional harm payment to the driver.
