Lawyer in fatal crash had blood-alcohol excess

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 17

Lawyer in fatal crash had blood-alcohol excess

PA Whangarei A Whangarei lawyer, Christopher Paul Ramsdale, who was killed in a car crash that also claimed the life of another lawyer, Brian Maurice Kain, was driving with excess bloodalcohol. • Mr Ramsdale, a member of the Crown prosecutor’s office, had 145 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood at the time of the fatal accident on August 15. The legal limit is 80 milligrams. The alcohol figures were disclosed at an inquest before the Whangarei Coroner, Mr Christopher Kennedy. He returned an open verdict in accordance with medical evidence given by a pathologist, Dr Edgar John-

son — that Mr Ramsdale, aged 29, died as a result of broken ribs rupturing the chest wall, and that Mr Kain, aged 38, died from severe skull fractures. Mr Ramsdale, Mr Kain, and a third Whangarei lawyer, Mr David Hislop, were returning north after a day of legal business in Auckland. Mr Ramsdale’s car hit a concrete bridge at Mata on State Highway 1,20 km south of Whangarei, about 10.40 p.m. The impact tore the car in two, the front section coming to rest 50 metres from the bridge. The rear of the car was 15 metres from the point of

impact. All three were thrown from the car, and Mr Rams-

dale and the front-seat passenger, Mr Kain, were killed instantly. Mr Hislop was taken to Whangarei Hospital with injuries and has since recovered.