A skilled motorcyclist who died after he went for a bike at his uncle’s house was four times the legal blood alcohol driving limit.
Matthew James Lines-Gerrard was 24 when he died at Otatara near Invercargill on May 1, 2019.
Coroner Meenal Duggal’s findings stated Mr Lines-Gerrard consumed seven Corona beers while at his uncle’s house for drinks and dinner.
He was described as a skilled rider who had grown up riding motorbikes.
After pouring himself a cider at 9.45pm, he took an unregistered and unwarranted Honda motorbike, used for off-road racing, from the shed at the property.
He was not wearing a helmet.
A police serious crash unit investigation concluded Mr Lines-Gerrard rode the Honda out of the driveway, turned right and travelled about 35m before entering the gravel driveway of another property.
He then travelled along a grass verge towards a concrete power pole.
"There was evidence of braking approximately 8m before the power pole," Ms Duggal’s findings stated.
"A neighbour heard a loud crash and walked out to the road at the same time Matthew’s cousin arrived.
"They found Matthew lying on his back on the right side of a concrete power pole.
"He was bleeding and his breathing was very distorted."
Family members carried out CPR until an ambulance arrived.
He died later that evening.
Toxicology analysis showed alcohol detected in Mr Lines-Gerrard’s blood and urine at 200mg and 238mg milligrams per 100 millilitres respectively.
The legal blood alcohol limit for a driver 20 years old or over in New Zealand is 50mg per 100 millilitres.
In her recommendations, Ms Duggal stated the combination of alcohol consumption, the unlit road and riding without headlights all contributed to Mr Lines-Gerrard’s death.
"His death at such a young age is a tragic loss which was sadly preventable."
