Please do not Drink and Drive

A cutting from Harald NZ

A West Auckland taxi driver has admitted causing the death of three family members when he crashed his car into a concrete power pole in Titirangi after drinking and driving in August. At the Waitakere District Court yesterday, 27-year-old Amir Jan admitted three charges of driving with excess blood alcohol, causing the death of his two stepsons, Shamel Kumar, 9, and Shanal Kumar, 4, and his mother-in-law, Indu Chandra, 53. He was also charged with one count of causing injury. The charges carry a maximum prison term of five years. Yesterday, the father of the two young children, Sanjay Kumar, said he wanted the man responsible for his children's death sent to jail and banned from driving for life. "I think somebody killing three people while they are drinking and driving deserves jail," he said. Mr Kumar said when he found out last year that his two children had been killed in a crash, "I was just on my knees shaking and I was paralysed with shock". Mr Kumar, who came to New Zealand with his former wife and their children before they separated, said the grief meant he had to resign from his job as a chef. "I still hear their voice in my dreams, but I can't really see them. That is why I visit their graves every second day," he said. Judge Robert Kerr remanded Jan for sentencing in April and asked for probation and victim impact reports. Jan's lawyer, Gary Gotlieb, said Jan was not used to alcohol. "This is a tragedy for everyone involved, including my client," Mr Gotlieb told the court. As well as prison, Jan could face a $20,000 fine and a minimum one-year driving ban. A report by the police serious crash unit said Jan and his family were celebrating the birth of a friend's daughter on the night of the crash on August 11 last year. Jan, unaccustomed to strong liquor, drank vodka with his meal. Jan's Ford Falcon was later seen by a motorist travelling at "excessive speed" in a 50km/h zone. He was hugging the centre line and had to swerve to avoid traffic islands. On Golf Rd, near the Titirangi golf course, Jan attempted to round two moderate right-hand bends, which had advisory speeds of 45km/h. Rounding the first bend, the car - said to be travelling at more than 100km/h - was "almost on two wheels". At the next bend the Falcon mounted the kerb and hit a concrete power pole. Indu Chandra died instantly. Shamel Kumar, who was sharing the middle seatbelt with Shanal Kumar, died from head injuries when thrown from the car. Shanal also died from multiple head and internal injuries. Jan's wife, Meenu Roslin Chandra, suffered a cracked bone in her knee, sprained ankle and bruising. His father-in-law, Surendre Chandra, was in the front passenger seat. Jan was found to have 133mg of alcohol for 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80. The serious crash unit calculated that Jan was travelling at more that 100km/h at the time. Jan told police he was doing a maximum speed of 60km/h. He said he did not normally drink. Outside court, the chief executive of Auckland Co-Op Taxis, Brent Milham, said Jan had not driven as a taxi driver for the company since the crash. His charges meant he would not be allowed to drive for the company again. When the Herald approached Jan yesterday at his home, he refused to speak about the case. The crash * Amir Jan's Falcon destroyed a reinforced concrete power pole when he hit it at an estimated 100km/h last August. He was over the legal alcohol limit. * Jan's mother-in-law, Indu Chandra, died instantly from multiple head and internal injuries. * Stepsons Shamel Kumar, 9, and Shanal Kumar, 4, died from injuries. * Jan's wife, Meenu Roslin Chandra, suffered a cracked bone in her knee.