Man sentenced for methamphetamine accident that killed his son

A man faces three years and six months in prison after his methamphetamine-affected driving killed his baby son, paralyzed a 2-year-old and injured others.

Wade Makoare, 25, was sentenced today in Whanganui Superior Court.

The Court heard that Makoare was driving north to Auckland with five passengers when he passed a truck and trailer at a blind corner on SH1 south of Waiouru. The vehicle collided head-on with a family of four in another vehicle at 11:40 a.m. on June 13, 2019.

Makoare has never had a driver’s license and had spent the previous night smoking methamphetamine. His partner of eight years had asked him not to pass the truck.

Because his vehicle was crowded, his son Micheal John Junior Timarearokaikah Makoare was untethered on his partner’s lap in the seat behind him.

The baby died at the scene and others in both cars were taken to the hospital with a variety of injuries. A 2-year-old girl, who had been immobilized in a car seat in the other vehicle, spent four months at Starship Hospital and two months in rehab after the accident.

She is paralyzed from the chest down, and doctors initially thought she would not survive.

In the victim’s impact report, her mother said the accident had changed the family’s life. They had to move house and she was taking care of her daughter full time.

“We value our children. We did everything right. Life for us will never be the same again.”

Crown prosecutor Chris Wilkinson-Smith said the tragedy had devastated two families and was completely preventable.

Makoare’s attorney, Peter Brosnahan, said there could not have been more tragic circumstances.

Makoare never really got a chance, given how he grew up. Judge Francis Cooke described that as a “substance abuse, gang and violence” rule.

“That in no way mitigates the consequences of his incredibly stupid actions,” Brosnahan said.

At age 25, Makoare had a good chance of rehab and told Brosnahan that he just wanted to move on and change everything about him. He admitted his guilt while at the scene of the accident and had gone through a restorative justice process with his partner’s family.

His remorse was palpable, Brosnahan said.

“In fact, it makes things worse for him. You just see him squarely in the face every moment he’s awake.”

Makaore pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and five counts of dangerous driving. He was sentenced to one year in prison for each charge of driving and disqualified from driving for one year.

Your driving sentences will be served at the same time as your longest manslaughter sentence.