A High Court judge has fined a public service vehicle (PSV) operator $15 000 for the reckless driving that led to the death of a 17-year-old boy, describing the crash as “utterly avoidable”.

“This was pure recklessness on the roads that fell drastically below the standard that is expected of a driver of experience and a driver engaged in transporting citizens of this country to and fro on a daily basis,” said Justice Christopher Birch during the sentencing hearing of Tristan Karel Phillips.

Phillips, of Chance Hall, St Lucy, had admitted in the No. 5A Supreme Court to causing the death of Trae Sobers on November 20, 2016 by driving a ‘ZR’ route taxi on Mount Gay Road in St Lucy in a manner dangerous to the public.