A Hamilton man, Jack Isaac Halliday, has been sentenced to prison following the death of 24-year-old Sahil Prasad in a fatal crash caused by drink-driving, The New Zealand Herald reported. The tragedy unfolded on July 21 last year when Halliday, who had consumed at least nine alcoholic drinks, crossed the centre line in his ute, colliding with Prasad’s vehicle near Hamilton.
The incident occurred after Halliday ignored his workmate's pleas not to drive and left Matamata for Hamilton. Roughly 30 minutes later, Prasad, who had been on his way home after wishing a friend a happy birthday, was killed instantly in the crash. Halliday was found to have a blood alcohol level of 144mg per 100ml, nearly three times the legal limit.
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During sentencing, Judge Stephen Clark acknowledged Halliday’s remorse but stressed the need for deterrence, given the severity of the offence and Halliday’s prior drink-driving conviction, which occurred just seven months before the fatal crash. Halliday was sentenced to 22 and a half months in prison.
An Indian family of five who migrated from Fiji to New Zealand to build a better future had their dreams shattered when their son, the family’s primary earner, was killed in a fatal car crash caused by a drunk driver.
Rajesh, Sahil's father, remembered his son’s parting words that evening: “See you tomorrow, Dad,” as he spoke of some “exciting plans for the weekend, which never happened.”
“Our beloved Sahil left home to wish a friend happy birthday without knowing what was on his way. When he left home, we had no idea that we would not see our son’s lovely face ever again," The New Zealand Herald reported.
Halliday’s lawyer, Rhianna Scott, said her client was deeply remorseful and had since stopped drinking and driving. However, Judge Clark expressed concern about Halliday’s failure to seek help for his apparent alcohol problem, noting that it was a key factor in the crash.
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