An Otematata man made a bad decision to drive after drinking then the fatal mistake of not wearing his seat belt before his car crashed into the Otematata River bridge, Otago-Southland coroner David Crerar said yesterday.
Thomas Terry Jopson (21), labourer, died from haemorrhaging due to injuries received when the car he was driving crashed into the bridge abutment causing fatal injuries.
Evidence at the inquest in Oamaru yesterday was Mr Jopson, also a fireman, had been drinking at a social function at the Otematata Fire Brigade. He left some time before 3.30am, got in his car and hit the bridge at between 68kmh and 84kmh.
He had a blood-alcohol level of 231mg, almost three times the legal limit.
One witness said Mr Jopson put "quite a lot away" over an extended period of time.
Mr Jopson was dead when his extensively damaged car was found across State Highway 83 on the bridge about 4.20am by a truck driver.
The Otematata Fire Brigade, of which Mr Jopson's father, Kelvin, is also a member, was called to the crash.
Mr Crerar said that Mr Jopson, for reasons known only to himself, had made a "bad decision" to drive that night, then "the fatal mistake" of not wearing a seat belt..
Mr Crerar hoped publicity about the death struck a chord and reminded people that that could happen to them if they made a similar decision.
"I seldom hear of bad people, but good people do bad or stupid things," he said.
Other findings
The dangers of walking while intoxicated or sober on dark rural roads in dark clothing has been highlighted again by Mr Crerar.
Norman Bruce Thompson (37), of Mornington, was killed when he was walking on State Highway 1 in Hampden and was hit by a truck then run over by a car about midnight on June 3 near the intersection with Ipswich St.
Mr Thompson, who was intoxicated, had hitchhiked from Palmerston to Hampden, was on the road at night wearing dark clothes, in a dark area between two lights, and terrain could have affected the ability of drivers to see him.
Mr Crerar found Mr Thompson died from severe injuries received after being struck by two vehicles while walking intoxicated, dressed in dark clothing and in area with inadequate lighting.
