Woman possibly fell asleep at the wheel
A car crash that claimed the lives of a brother and sister may have been caused by the learner driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Later testing found the driver, Shakayla Heni Te Huna-tamanui, 22, had traces of cannabis in her system at the time.
She and younger brother Nazareth Jerih Te Huna, 14, died when their car crashed into a truck, north of Ohakune, on March 6.
In findings released on Wednesday, Coroner Tim Scott said Te Huna-tamanui and Nazareth set off from Auckland on March 5, arriving at Huntly at 2am the next day.
They separated from other family members and carried on towards Whanganui.
Te Huna-tamanui was driving. She had a learner licence she gained only six months before the crash.
Two witnesses said Te Hunatamanui overtook an oversized truck and its front pilot vehicle shortly before the crash on State Highway 4, at Erua.
They said Te Huna-tamanui’s car drifted off the road to the left, and then to the right, crossing the centre line into the path of another truck.
Constable Greg Robinson said an implement used for smoking cannabis was found in the driver’s footwell of the car and it was travelling about 75 kmh before the crash.
Scott said speed didn’t seem to be a factor and the crash happened because Te Huna-tamanui lost control of the car.
‘‘The car drifted or veered to the left on to the road verge and then proceeded at a right angle across the road in front of the truck.’’
The coroner thought it was probably Te Huna-tamanui’s attempt to correct the car, but Scott said that couldn’t be proven.
‘‘There does not appear to have been any attempt by [Te Hunatamanui] to brake heavily.
‘‘I think that, possibly, [Te Huna-tamanui] had fallen into a microsleep and woke when the car drifted off the road.’’
An autopsy didn’t find anyalcohol in Te Huna-tamanui’s blood, but she did test positive for cannabis.
Both Te Huna-tamanui and Nazareth died due to multiple injuries to the head and heart, with Nazareth also suffering neck injuries.
A Givealittle page created for the pair said they were the oldest and youngest children in their family.