Hamilton driver sentenced after railway crossing crash killed three people

Wednesday 10 December 2025 · 5 outlets · 4 reports · updated Wed 10 Dec 2025, 7:36pm

In this story High Court

Norton Sowerby has been sentenced in the Hamilton High Court for three counts of manslaughter and reckless driving causing injury. The crash occurred at the Peachgrove Road rail crossing last November when Sowerby drove onto the tracks and was struck by a train. He reportedly told police he was not the driver at the scene.

How they headlined it

5h

10:49am1:44pm7:01pm

1. Waikato TimesWed 10 Dec 2025, 10:49am

   Triple killer driver in Hamilton railway crossing crash claimed ‘I’m not the driver’ from driver’s seat (opens in new tab)

2. StuffWed 10 Dec 2025, 1:44pm

   Man who killed three in horror crash claimed ‘I’m not the driver’ from driver’s seat (opens in new tab)

3. RNZWed 10 Dec 2025, 7:01pm

   Norton Sowerby sentenced on three counts of manslaughter after driving across Hamilton train tracks, killing his friends (opens in new tab)

   Also on NZ Herald (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesWed 10 Dec 2025, 7:36pm

   Drugged driver killed three friends after ignoring pleas to stop (opens in new tab)