Family anguish ‘ignored’ by army
Military silent after fatal crash, writes Kirsty Lawrence.
The New Zealand Defence Force caused added stress and frustration to the family of a man who was killed when a Unimog hit his car, a Court of Inquiry has found.
Warren Anthony Carter, of Masterton, died when the car he was driving was hit by the army vehicle at the intersection of Watershed and Ashhurst roads, just outside Palmerston North, on August 10, 2017.
Dayne Jordan Pennington, a 24-year-old soldier, was charged with careless driving causing the death of Carter. He was granted a discharge without conviction.
Carter’s widow Joan said she repeatedly tried to contact the Defence Force after his death, and was largely ignored.
‘‘We had a police liaison officer who was brilliant, if we had a question, we called and he answered.
‘‘I had no contact with the army until I made lots of phone calls.’’
The Court of Inquiry findings, released under the Official Information
Act, stated the lack of contact had caused ‘‘additional stress and frustration on the family of the deceased’’.
The inquiry recommended the early appointment of a liaison officer with clear roles and responsibilities.
Joan Carter said this recommendation would have made a difference to her family.
She said her family were glad the recommended changes had been made as they felt it would make a difference if someone else ended up in their position.
Joan Carter also said she wanted to make sure the New Zealand Defence Force was held to account and did not just let the driver take the blame for the crash.
‘‘He made a mistake through inexperience, and that was what made me angry, the army left him to carry the blame.’’
During the court hearing, she questioned why the Defence Force let someone who had held a full driver licence for only five weeks take the wheel of a 6-tonne vehicle on a rural road.
However, the Court of Inquiry said there was no way of knowing that this accident was going to happen, based on the progress Pennington had been making.
‘‘The driving instructor had no concerns with Trooper Pennington’s performance.
‘‘There was no indication that he would make a driver error.’’
They recommended the sequencing of the training be reviewed and that the senior instructor of the training school approve the training programme before delivery.
Pennington had only started training in the Unimog the day before the crash.
On the day of the accident, Pennington had been instructed to turn right at an intersection.
A car was seen coming from the left and Pennington went to brake but missed, hitting Carter’s car.
The inquiry found Pennington had hit the accelerator and increased his speed when he was attempting to brake.
The Unimog winch may have been a major factor in Carter’s death, and its use is being reviewed.