A teenage boy drowned after losing control of the car he was driving, on a section of road under repair, and was trapped when his vehicle went into the Mataura River, Otago Southland coroner David Crerar has found.
William James Keast (16), of Tokanui, died on December 15 last year after his car left Tokanui Gorge Rd.
Mr Crerar said William, who had a restricted driver's licence, was driving under the speed limit and the vehicle was in good condition. No alcohol was detected in his blood.
"... there is no evidence to establish that the loss of control by William Keast was caused by anything other than a momentary distraction".
The boy's parents, Julie and Peter Keast, raised concerns about the condition of the road, Mr Crerar said. He accepted their concerns it was "unrealistic" to have an open speed limit, albeit with an advisory speed sign at the bend near the crash site, when the road was being reconstructed.
The Southland District Council had since reduced the recommended speed for the bend. Roadworks warning signs were in place at the time, but the 30kmh signs had been lowered to the ground on December 9, allowing traffic to go up to 100kmh.
The council had taken steps to reduce the chances of a similar crash in the future, Mr Crerar said. This included contractors being asked to keep a detailed site record of when regulatory signs were installed and removed and an authorised speed limit being required when there were road hazards.
The coroner recommended his findings be forwarded to the New Zealand Transport Agency so the agency could note his comments on roadworks signage.
He would also draw the bravery of those who attempted to rescue William - particularly the efforts of Samuel Powell - to the attention of the Royal Humane Society.
William and his friend Daniel Stronach were travelling to Invercargill the morning of the crash, Mr Crerar said.
Daniel recalled the start of the roadworks, felt the car "bounce and shake" then saw his friend steering the car to try and correct its slide.
He remembered placing his hand on the roof of the car but nothing further until he "came to" on his hands and knees, on the river bank near the road, Mr Crerar said.
He could not see the car but thought it had gone into the river, because of a "rippling" in the water.
Daniel did not have his cellphone so flagged down a truck and reported the accident. Two people in a van pulled up and they tried to reach the car in the river.
Mr Powell gave evidence that he and one of the people from the van dived into the river a number of times, looking for the car's driver, but neither could find him.
With the assistance of another passer-by, Mr Powell attached strops and then chains to the submerged car and managed to tow it out, using a truck. He recovered William's body.
Daniel had earlier unclipped his seatbelt to recover his cellphone which he had dropped on the car floor, and was thrown out the back window of the car when it rolled.
William was wearing a seat belt. He was probably knocked unconscious in the crash, and died from asphyxia from drowning, Mr Crerar said.
