The deadly moment that cost three lives
Jennifer Town ‘‘somehow lost control of the Holden as a result of swerving left into the far tarsealed area between the white fog line and the edge of the tar seal or into the informal lay-by’’ Coroner Tim Scott
A teenage boy and his mum were killed by a moment’s inattention.
Whanganui woman Jennifer Susan Town, 41, attempted to avoid a turning car at the last minute and then collided with another vehicle in a deadly rural smash, a coroner has ruled.
She and her son Zane died at the scene of the crash in May 2015, when their car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of State Highway 3 and Williamsons Line, near Marton, Rangitikei.
Jennifer Town failed to see a right-turning vehicle and her lastminute attempt to avoid a crash ended with her veering into another vehicle.
It was driven by Palmerston North woman Judy Daryl Redfearn, 68. She died in hospital the same day as the crash.
Jennifer Town suffered fatal head injuries and Zane chest injuries. Three other passengers in their car were injured.
Witness Bruce Rea told Coroner Tim Scott that Jennifer Town swerved to avoid his turning car.
Rea was turning from the highway on to Williamsons Line, as he did often when driving home from Palmerston North to Marton.
He said he had two options when turning. He could either pull over to the left, off the road, before making a right turn, or he would move to the centre line, while indicating a right-hand turn.
He chose the latter option on the day of the crash.
Rea then watched Jennifer Town’s car approaching him from behind, without slowing down, which he said was concerning.
‘‘The woman appeared to be looking at and talking to a passenger in the front passenger seat.’’
Jennifer Town’s Holden Commodore did not slow down or make any attempt to pass Rea on the inside, Rea said.
He accelerated ahead, in an attempt to avoid a crash. Next moment, he saw Jennifer Town’s trailer up in the air as her car collided with Redfearn’s.
Coroner Tim Scott found Rea was not at fault. The coroner ruled that Jennifer Town ‘‘somehow lost control of the Holden as a result of swerving left into the far tar-sealed area between the white fog line and the edge of the tar seal or into the informal lay-by’’.
The loss of control caused her car and trailer unit to veer across the road into Redfearn’s car.
The road was wide enough for a vehicle to pass right-turning traffic on the left, the coroner ruled.
Once Jennifer Town shifted her focus from the road to her passenger, then back to the road, it was too late to safely avoid Rea’s car, Scott said.