Deaths put spotlight on rural drivers

Joseph Mervyn Te Whetu Higgins died after his ute rolled 100 metres near Te Karaka on Sunday

Eastern police say two "near identical" crashes are a sign rural drivers are ignoring warnings about drink-driving.

The first crash on Sunday claimed the life of Joseph Mervyn Te Whetu Higgins, 51 years, of Te Karaka, whose ute rolled 100 metres down a steep bank after he'd been at a private party consuming alcohol.

Mr Higgins was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. "His son remained in the vehicle, and miraculously, when it came to rest at the bottom was able to get out and seek help for his father, walking some 2 kilometres to the nearest house," Acting Road Policing Manager Greg Brown said.

Mr Brown said the circumstances of the crash were similar to those of another alcohol-related crash last weekend in which a Bay motorist was "extremely fortunate" to survive a late night crash on Valley Road, Raukawa, 15km west of Hastings. "Police enquiries have identified that a group of farmers at a social function were drinking alcohol throughout the day [last Saturday]. At about 11pm the man left the address to drive a short distance home. Due to his heavy intoxication, he failed to take a moderate bend and his ute rolled once down a bank, becoming trapped in a fence. This fence saved the vehicle rolling 20-30 metres down a steep bank that likely would have killed the man.

"He was also very fortunate to have some other residents driving home who by chance noticed skid marks on the road and investigated to find the man trapped and in a precarious position."

The 29-year-old has been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol. "The man hinted that most people who had left the social event were drunk and had driven home. The fact that this was not a fatal crash was pure luck, and when the driver realised how close he had come to dying, was very apologetic and burst into tears of relief.

"These crashes prove that the saying 'rural people die on rural roads' is not just a convenient slogan, it is a reality. Both were only a few kilometres from home. The driver in the Valley Rd crash is fortunate that he gets a second chance. Sadly, Mr Higgins won't. My challenge to those in the rural community is how many people are prepared to have conversations before they allow their family and friends to put themselves at risk."