Coroner Andrew Schirnack released his findings regarding the accident, which occurred overnight on May 28, 2022, killing Sean William Baxter. He died of massive cranial trauma after the vehicle he was driving went down a bank in the ranges.
Mr Baxter, who was 20 at the time, and two friends travelled from Dunedin to the Hawkdun Range, in Central Otago, between about 10pm on May 28, 2022, and 3am the following day.
Mr Baxter had consumed MDMA on May 28, the coroner said.
Although Mr Baxter had driven off-road in this area, the group opted to take a different route.
The group were driving on a narrow alpine track when they encountered a rockslide. The two friends got out of the vehicle.
While reversing, the right-hand side of the vehicle went off the track, moving on to a downhill slope. Mr Baxter got out of the vehicle at least twice to inspect its position.
On returning to the driver’s seat, he made attempts to remedy the situation, including driving forward. Despite these efforts, the vehicle kept moving further down the bank.
While driving forward, the vehicle tilted into a "high centred" position, causing it, in turn, to roll about 35m down the neighbouring bank
The police serious crash unit, when investigating the crash, observed scrape marks within the bank’s tussock consistent with tyre spinning. Their characteristics indicated the vehicle slipped down while the tyre was still rotating.
The vehicle came to rest about 250m from the track. Mr Baxter was ejected and found 14m from the vehicle.
The coroner ruled Mr Baxter died from massive cranial trauma.
At the time Mr Baxter was reversing up the track, there was no natural light — conditions were described as "pitch black" by one of his friends.
The coroner said the vehicle’s departure from the track was caused by an error in Mr Baxter’s driving.
"The research indicates that MDMA can adversely affect matters of judgement. I therefore accept the serious crash unit’s view that Mr Baxter’s recent consumption of MDMA was a likely contributor to the crash. In reaching that finding, though, the court is not seeking to attribute culpability, and it in no way diminishes the tragedy of Mr Baxter’s death."
The death involved a driving accident occurring in an off-road environment, with challenging driving routes, in very dark conditions.
"As such, it illustrates the need to take particular care in off-road driving journeys."
It was recommended off-road drivers take a robust torch, specialised nylon recovery boards and a rescue kit including recovery straps, shackles and a jack. — APL
