Hayden Richard Hurst in court. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
An Otago drink driver who killed Royalburn Station's head butcher in a head on crash after a work Christmas party will go to prison.
Hayden Richard Hurst, 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he hit Outrega (Tré) Anderson's car on State Highway 6 near Gibbston in December last year.
He was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison, disqualified from driving for four years after release and ordered to pay Anderson's family $10,000 in emotional harm reparation in the Invercargill High Court on Tuesday.
Justice Lisa Preston said he had a blood alcohol level of 131mg - more than double the legal limit, he had over twice the high risk legal limit of MDMA in his system and he wasn't wearing corrective lens while behind the wheel.
It was the morning after his work Christmas party in Queenstown on 16 December.
His employer had booked accommodation, but Hurst decided to drive to his home in Wanaka.
The court heard he drove recklessly and dangerously for half an hour before the fatal crash, driving the wrong way up a one way street, veering into oncoming traffic and forcing some drivers to leave the road to avoid a head-on collision.
Preston said he was weaving and swerving over the road, tailgating traffic, speeding, and drove the wrong side of the McDonald drive thru entrance, almost colliding with bins.
He was eating McDonalds and talking hands-free with his partner after passing the Crown Range Road turnoff when he veered again into the other lane where Anderson was driving.
They collided head on.
Anderson died at the scene.
In a victim impact statement, Anderson's family said it was a senseless act that left them with a true life sentence, with overwhelming and unbearable grief some days.
"We believe you didn't intend to hurt or kill anyone that day," they said.
"But you made the choice to get behind the wheel, knowing there was a risk you could cause harm to someone and you did, inadvertently killing Tré and leaving us with a true life sentence."
The effects of his sudden death was catastrophic, made even more upsetting by his mum's Alzheimer's preventing her from being able to properly grieve her son, they said.
One of his nephews had anxiety and feared another of his loved ones would dying in a car crash, they said.
They describe Anderson as a beautiful, kind and compassionate soul, with a talent for art and burgeoning career.
His workmates described him as a rock of Royalburn Station, saying his death had left them heartbroken and a gaping hole in their lives.
They challenged Hurst to ensure he made every effort to become a better man, to never drive while intoxicated again and help others to learn from his mistakes.
Justice Lisa Preston said their victim impact statements spoke of a kind, beloved and highly respected man whose life was cut far too short.
In letter's from Hurst's family, employer and friends, she noted they said it was wholly out of character.
"It is clear you are well regarded as a hard working, still relatively young man," she said.
"Those testimonials demonstrate the enormous fall from grace your terrible choice to drive represents."
Through his lawyer Kerry Cook, Hurst offered to meet with Anderson's family whenever they wanted to face what he had done.
Tuesday's sentencing was a year and a day since the fatal crash.
