Tauranga man Rodger Smyth sentenced for careless driving over the death of motorcyclist Karen Brown

Open Justice reporter - Tauranga·NZ Herald·31 Jul, 2026 11:00 PM7 mins to read‌Rodger Smyth, 44, has been sentenced on a charge of careless driving causing death, after a collision with motorcyclist Karen Brown in 2024.A “momentary lapse” in attention saw a driver “carelessly” turn in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, causing her to be catapulted over the car after she collided with the driver’s door. Karen Brown’s death was noted by a judge as an “immeasurable and enduring loss“ to her family, as the