The scene of a fatal accident where five people died on State Highway 3 south of Ōhaupō. Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
A woman who drove without a licence, while inhaling 'nangs' from a green balloon, caused a fatal crash that claimed her life and those of four others, a coroner has found.
Police described the crash near Te Awamutu in May last year as "horrendous" - three occupants of one car and a retired couple in another all died on impact. They were Paul and Lois Grimmer.
Coroner Matthew Bates has found Piata Otufangavalu, 19, was "significantly impaired" while driving, due her use of nitrous oxide, known as NOS or nangs.
He also found that was potentially exacerbated by her use of cannabis.
"Her level of impairment clearly caused her to drive the Toyota across the centrelines into oncoming traffic lanes, and the path of Mr and Mrs Grimmer's Audi," Bates said. "The result was five avoidable deaths."
The coroner said it is widely publicised that no-one should drive after or while consuming drugs or alcohol, nor drive without a licence.
"In the present case, the impaired party responsible for the collision had never held a driver's licence and therefore should not have been operating any motor vehicle on a road," Bates said. "This is tragically and painfully demonstrated in the present case, through the loss of five lives."
The two passengers in the car with Otufangavalu - partner Suliasi Lefai and friend Cheyene Love-Mitchell - were also seen inhaling nangs before the crash.
Police at the scene of what they say was a head-on collision. Photo: RNZ / Natalie Akoorie
After the fatal crash, police found green balloons, two large 640-gram canisters of nitrous oxide and a cannabis bong.
"All three had access to two large canisters of nitrous oxide," the coroner found. "At least two standard doses of nitrous oxide would have been consumed by Ms Otufangavalu prior to the collision.
"When a person is impaired through substance use, others around them aware of that fact must do everything practicable to prevent them from operating a motor vehicle.
"To do otherwise demonstrates disregard for the safety of not only the impaired person, but also for others in their company and those whose paths they may cross."
The coroner's report included the New Zealand Drug Foundation effects of nitrous oxide - a moderate dose of one canister may make a person feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly.
It can also cause hallucinations, and make a person feel dizzy or unco-ordinated. Other effects may include confusion, blurry vision and light-headedness.
On the day of the crash, Otufangavalu had picked up partner Lefai, when he finished working at Fieldays, and they were driving back to Te Awamutu.
The Grimmers were on what was to become their last weekly drive - Paul Grimmer was behind the wheel, but had no time to react to the oncoming car.
"They would often drive south to Ōtorohanga for ice cream or to their family homestead in Pārāwera," Bates said. "Their daughter considered Mr Grimmer to be an excellent driver, explaining that he had been a truck driver, who owned a trucking business for around 30 years."
The coroner hopes his findings help to prevent similar deaths in the future.
"The tragic consequences of impaired driving have the potential to touch any of us," Bates said. "My sincere hope is that continued publicity, education and enforcement intended to free our roads of impaired drivers gains greater traction."
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