A combination of factors, including alcohol and a modified four-wheel-drive vehicle that should not have been on the road, contributed to the death of a 51-year-old Maheno farmer in a crash last year, Otago coroner David Crerar has found.
Peter (Pete) Arnold McCone was not properly wearing his seat belt when he was thrown out of his Toyota four-wheel-drive and the vehicle rolled on him after it left a bend on the Maheno Kakanui Rd about 5pm on May 4, fatally injuring him.
A passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, was dazed but not injured.
An inquest was held in chambers by Mr Crerar in June and his findings have just been released.
Several factors, including the state of the vehicle, contributed to the crash but did not ''attribute any less culpability... for loss of control'' to Mr McCone.
The night before the crash, Mr McCone had been ''very drunk''.
On the day of the crash he met a friend about 10.30am, drove to a farm and drank four 440ml cans of beer.
After eating some food, they went to the Maheno Tavern where they drank two jugs of beer each, before leaving about 5pm.
A blood-alcohol analysis showed 226mg of alcohol in his blood - almost three times the legal limit - and a urine level of a significantly higher 302mg, which could have been indicative of the drinking the previous night.
''Pete McCone ought not to have been driving in that condition,'' Mr Crerar said.
Another factor was the Toyota vehicle he was driving, with its after-market modifications, was not suitable to be driven on the open road, despite having a current warrant of fitness.
It had deliberately under-inflated oversize tyres more suited for off-road driving, a faulty locking hub and a raised deck, which all made it difficult to control.
Witnesses at the inquest described it as dangerous, a ''horrible bloody truck'', ''a beast'', ''a pig'' and difficult to drive.
Mr McCone had himself commented: ''If you can drive the red truck, you can drive anything''.
However, Mr Crerar said: ''Pete McCone, of all people, knew of the handling characteristics of the [Toyota] and it cannot now be considered these were an excuse for what occurred.''
The inquest also heard criticism from some witnesses about the treatment for injuries Mr McCone received.
Mr Crerar said the injuries he received were, in the prevailing circumstances, ''inevitably lethal''.
Some of the recommendations made from the inquest included investigating whether there should be an advisory speed limit sign at the bend, St John and the Fire Service address concerns raised about Mr McCone's treatment and that VTNZ advise staff of criteria which need to be followed when issuing a warrant of fitness for an after-market modified vehicle.
