Young drunk drivers worry Coroner

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 4

Young drunk drivers worry Coroner

PA New Plymouth

Publicising fatal accidents involving young drunk drivers was the only way to get public awareness of this serious problem, said the New Plymouth Coroner, Mr Roger Mori. He said highlighting unnecessary deaths was the only way to drive home to those involved — parents, law-enforcement officers, liquor wholesalers and publicans — that lessons had to be learnt.

The Coroner made his comments during an inquest into the death of Shane James Kalin, aged 18, an unemployed labourer, of New Plymouth, who died as a result of an accident on September 20.

The Coroner said the case was tragic and all too common in New Zealand.

At 18 years of age, Mr Kalin had roamed round town in the early hours of the morning, completely

unsupervised, with access to a motor-vehicle.

He and his friends were able to buy as much alcohol as they desired, and drank it before driving erratically and irresponsibly.

“I know that this type of behaviour occurs' in cities and towns throughout the country- every night in the week but more on Friday and Saturday nights,”* said the Coroner. “The youths are drinking too much alcohol and driving at considerable speeds, placing themselves, friends and the members of the public in danger. It is only when things like this happen that the public are made aware of it.”

A Lepperton man had been the author of his own misfortune after drinking and driving, the Coroner said at a second inquest.

Bernard Felix Stieller, aged 53, died on August 18 on Mountain Road,

Lepperton, after being involved in an accident Constable Andrew Kennedy said he arrived at the scene about 4.40 p.m., where he saw two cars on opposite sides of the road. A Holden vehicle had a man trapped under it. The remains of a trailer were scattered on the road with two dead steers nearby.

Mr Robert Maxwell said he was driving along Mountain Road when a car veered across the road towards him.

“There was no way I could have avoided hitting the Holden.” he said. Dr Bruce Smith said Mr Stieller died of multiple severe injuries caused by the accident. He had a very high level of alcohol consumption. The Coroner said Mr Stieller had been drinking excessively through the day and should not have driven. He found he had died of multiple severe traumatic injuries suffered in the accident.