Inquiry into off-road tour crash deaths continues

Investigators continue to examine the cause of a crash which claimed the lives of two men during an off-road tour in remote Otago high country.

Neither police nor WorkSafe would comment on the allegation by a landowner that the high-end tour company was on his station without permission when the crash killed tourists Gary David Murphy (50) and Trevor Floyd Smith (55).

The investigation has now been running for more than three months but no charges have been laid.

Prestige Adventure directors John Thomssen and John Kluts said earlier the crash happened during the 4WD buggy (side-by-side) stage of a multi-day adventure tour.

Dome Hills Station owner David Douglas said at the time the crash happened on a remote part of his 7500ha station.

He was unaware the group was operating on his land and it had not sought permission, he said.

WorkSafe is leading the investigation and detectives, led by Detective Sergeant Hannah Booth, of Oamaru, are playing a supporting role.

A police spokeswoman said the inquiry was not yet in its final stages.

About 10 officers had been involved in the investigation but the team was now smaller, the spokeswoman said.

A WorkSafe spokesman said the investigation was continuing but would not provide details on its progress.

Such investigations could take up to a year, the spokesman said.

When pressed for further details, the spokesman said the reason for the lack of detail was investigators were handling information which might form part of a prosecution.

The team of investigators was based in Dunedin, he said.

Prestige Adventure did not respond to a request for comment.

 

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