A man who had an arm amputated following a crash he caused while driving on Frankton Rd in January has been discharged without conviction in the Queenstown District Court this morning. Lochana Maduranga Kulasiri Hidella Arachchige (33), hotel worker, of Queenstown, admitted careless driving causing injury to Emily Bruce on January 11. Judge Bernadette Farnan said Hidella Arachchige was driving home after a night shift at 7.20am after finishing an eight-hour shift. Hidella Arachchige, who had no prior convictions, sustained a serious injury to his right arm, which was subsequently amputated. Judge Farnan found the consequences of a conviction for Hidella Arachchige, who would find it difficult to obtain future work due to the lasting impacts of his injury, were out of proportion and granted the discharge.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 26, 2020 23:26 UTC