Truck driver released after nine months for fatal expressway crash

Monday 13 October 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated Mon 13 Oct 2025, 8:38am

Sarah Hope Schmidt has been released from Arohata Women’s Prison after serving nine months of a two-year and four-month sentence. Schmidt was convicted for the crash on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway that killed 22-year-old Caleb Baker. The victim's family expressed shock at her early release.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldMon 13 Oct 2025, 5:00am

   Truckie Sarah Schmidt, who killed Caleb Baker on Hawke’s Bay Expressway, released from prison after nine months (opens in new tab)

   Also on RNZ (opens in new tab)

2. StuffMon 13 Oct 2025, 5:00am

   Truckie looked at phone 10 times in moments before fatal crash (opens in new tab)

3. Otago Daily TimesMon 13 Oct 2025, 8:38am

   Victim's family 'blindsided' as phone-using truckie released early (opens in new tab)