At an inquest in Balclutha yesterday, Mr Crerar found Frank Leon Crooks (61) died of severe head injuries on September 9 immediately after failing to give way at the intersection of Allangrange and Clutha Valley Rds and his vehicle being hit by another travelling on Clutha Valley Rd.
The Clutha District Council was supporting a police call for the speed limit on all four approaches to the X-shaped intersection about 20km from Balclutha to be reduced from 100kmh to 70kmh, and the give-way sign on Allangrange Rd to be changed to a stop sign, Mr Crerar said.
The recommendations still had to be approved by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
He made a formal recommendation the work be done as soon as possible, saying it always seemed sad for a death to have to occur before improvements, sought by the community for years, at problem intersections were actioned.
Mr Crooks, retired, was driving home from Clinton in light rain when the crash happened about 5.40pm.
His vehicle collided with farmer Colleen Elizabeth Young's utility as she drove towards her home.
Mrs Young was not to blame for the crash, Mr Crerar said.
Constable Kenneth James Patterson, a crash analyst based in Invercargill, said the intersection was difficult to see from Allangrange Rd as it was on the crest of a hill.
His visit to the area on September 9 to examine the scene was his first, and he "overshot" the intersection too, not realising it was there.
The road was 70kmh from the Clydevale settlement and one-way bridge until about 60m before the intersection with Clutha Valley Rd, when it changed to 100kmh.
Signage near the intersection was confusing and the give-way sign was hard to see because of trees.
During his visit, Const Patterson said he was approached by several local residents who "passionately expressed their concerns" about the intersection, particularly that the speed limit was too high.
He was told parents from Clutha Valley School, on Clutha Valley Rd near the intersection, had petitioned the council some years ago to have the speed limit reduced.
After the crash, a "very productive" meeting was held between police, council staff and Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes, he said.
"It was not to besmirch anyone, but to ensure improvements are made to ensure a crash like this doesn't happen again."
Mr Crerar said he visited the area and was "astonished" to see the speed limit increased to 100kmh so close to the intersection.
"I was even more astonished to learn the school community had made representations to have a more sensible speed limit there."
Intoxicated
A 51-year-old driver who died on New Year's Eve last year was intoxicated and not wearing a seatbelt, the inquest into his death heard.
Lindsay Maurice Hale was about 15km from his home when he failed to negotiate a sharp corner on Cannibal Rd, near Owaka, Const Patterson said.
The crash was believed to have happened about midnight on December 31.
The vehicle rolled down a steep bank and came to rest in a paddock.
Mr Hale suffered serious head injuries.
His had 287mg of alcohol in his blood, three and a-half times the legal limit.
Mr Hale was last seen at a party at Cannibal Bay.
Crib owner Neville William Hay said Mr Hale, whom he knew, stopped by about 11.15pm and left again before 11.45pm.
He had "had a few beers" before he arrived, Mr Hay said.
Mr Crerar asked Mr Hay how concerned people at the party were about Mr Hale's level of intoxication.
Mr Hay replied people tried to persuade Mr Hale not to drive.
"The slogan is `don't drink and drive', isn't it. We tried to make him stay the night, but he didn't want to. You can't padlock a person, can you."
In response to Mr Crerar, both Const Patterson and Owaka Constable Murray Hewitson said Mr Hale might have survived the crash if he had been wearing a seatbelt.
