The Poolburn Hotel's publican has admitted the death of a drink-driving patron was a "big wake-up call" for him.
Hotel lessee and bar manager George Morris gave evidence in the Alexandra District Court yesterday at the inquest into the death of Leslie Armitage (23), of Tipperary, Ireland, near Poolburn on November 13 last year.
Otago Southland Coroner David Crerar said Mr Armitage was intoxicated and should not have been driving. He had received serious chest crush injuries and head injuries after the Land Rover he was driving rolled.
"He failed to negotiate the bend, probably due to his level of intoxication, and was ejected through the sunroof and suffered fatal injuries."
Had Mr Armitage been wearing a seat belt, there was "every likelihood" he would have survived the crash.
Mr Morris said a group of Irishmen were drinking at his hotel that night. They were a jovial group but he did not think they were drunk.
"They were always like that, without drinking - taking the mick and always in good spirits."
They were working in the area and he did not offer them a ride home, as he did not think they had had that much to drink. The fatal accident after the group left the hotel had been "a big wake-up call for me", Mr Morris said.
"It's made me look closer at what people are drinking and how much."
Since the crash, the hotel had bought a courtesy coach and had a barbecue available for patrons to use.
As a result of the incident, Mr Morris had his general manager's certificate suspended for three months by the Liquor Licensing Authority.
Monique McNabb, of Poolburn, gave evidence of drinking with Sarah Falconer, of Moa Creek, and the group of Irishmen at the hotel that night. By the time the Irishmen left the hotel, they were "well and truly drunk".
She had worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years and believed it was a "serious loss of judgement" by the publican to keep serving the men.
The group left in two vehicles about 12.50am on November 13.
She was travelling in a car driven by Ms Falconer, with two Irishmen as passengers. The vehicle driven by Mr Armitage, with his friend as the passenger, followed them.
Ms Falconer was driving fast along Sullivan Rd and missed a bend, but got back on the road, Ms McNabb said.
She turned around to see the vehicle behind also missing the bend but hitting a fence and rolling four times. She ran back to the upturned Land Rover and saw Mr Armitage's leg underneath the vehicle.
Serious crash unit investigator Senior Constable Alastair Crosland said Sullivan Rd was unsealed. Mr Armitage's vehicle hit a deep water-filled sump before rolling. His passenger received only minor injuries. Neither man was wearing a seat belt.
Mr Armitage's blood-alcohol level was 263mg. The legal limit is 80mg.
Ms Falconer was sentenced in the Alexandra District Court in December on charges of drink-driving and dangerous driving.
