The daughter of former All Blacks star Ron Cribb has pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run that left a 65-year-old man dead on a rural road.
Helena Jade Cribb, 22, appeared in North Shore District Court on Thursday charged over the death of Jason Collins, who was found by a passerby on O’Brien Road in Lucas Heights, north of Auckland, on December 7, 2023.
Cribb, who works in advertising, was charged in April this year after hearing reports of Collins’ death and turning herself in to police.
On Thursday she pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle carelessly and thereby causing Collins’ death, her lawyer Adam Holland told local outlet Stuff.
Cribb will be sentenced in December.
The court was told Cribb had been ‘very highly intoxicated’, ‘slurring her words’ and ‘aggressive’ at a Christmas party on the night of the crash.
A work colleague had organised for an Uber to drop Cribb to her car in the CBD after she promised to only sleep in the car and charge her phone – not drive.
Daughter of All Blacks star Helena Jade Cribb, 22, was charged in April this year after hearing reports of Collins’ death and turning herself in to police
Helena Jade Cribb pleaded guilty to fatally running over Jason Collins (pictured) on a rural road
However, when the Uber dropped her off at 11.28pm, Cribb got behind the wheel of the vehicle and began the 24km journey to her home.
Cribb’s vehicle struck Mr Collins as she drove on O’Brien Road – a sealed rural road with a speed limit of 60km/h.
His body was dragged 31m by Cribb’s car and rolled a further seven metres from the impact.
It’s understood Mr Collins was lying on the road when he was struck, following a scene examination.
‘We will never know how he came to be lying on the road,’ Judge Murray previously told the court.
Mr Collins sustained serious internal injuries to his head and body which likely would have been fatal even if Cribb had stopped immediately to help.
There were no witnesses to the crash and Mr Collins’ body was discovered in the early morning of December 7.
Cribb went to police after seeing news of Collins’ death but claimed she did not know if she’d hit anyone.
She only recalled feeling a large bump, similar to driving across a pothole, as she was turning up her radio.
The underside of Cribb’s car suffered significant damage, causing it to break down the following morning.
Cribb, the 22-year-old daughter of All Blacks star Ron Cribb (pictured in 2007) will be sentenced in December for operating a vehicle carelessly
Pieces of plastic from the underside of her car were later found at the scene.
Police alleged the crash was likely caused by Cribb being distracted by adjusting her radio.
Collins’ family said he was a beloved father, husband and friend.
‘The tragic loss of Jason has left an unfillable void in our hearts,’ they said.
‘Taken from us too soon, his departure is a profound and senseless blow that we struggle to comprehend.
‘Each day is a battle against the overwhelming emptiness left in his wake.’
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