An Army Unimog that crashed into a truck 18 months ago killing its driver, was out of service and should not have been driven on the day of the crash, an inquest has heard.
Checks showed no mechanical faults in the Unimog, but an army inquiry found it should not have been driven, the inquest on Foodstuffs supply truck driver Shane Ratahi, of Palmerston North, was told yesterday.
John Francis Eric Penney, 22, was at the wheel of the army Unimog when it crossed the centre line and slammed into Mr Ratahi's truck on State Highway 1, south of Hunterville, on February 7, 2006.
Penney was found not guilty in Marton District Court last year of careless driving causing death and two counts of careless driving causing injury.
The inquest continues today.