4WD deaths put focus on beach signs

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Police are calling for better signposting of the speed limit on a West Auckland beach where a speeding four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed, killing three of its five occupants.

Soon Sung Yim, 49, and his wife Myeoung Heui Kim, 43, from the North Shore, were killed in the crash, 33km north of Muriwai on Sunday.

Insoon Son, a 70-year-old woman visiting from Korea, also died. None of the three was wearing a seatbelt and they were all thrown from the vehicle.

The two survivors, who suffered broken bones and were taken by Westpac and Northland Emergency Services Trust helicopters to Auckland Hospital, were wearing seatbelts.

The injured driver has told police he was travelling at 80km/h to 90km/h. The stretch of beach has a speed limit of 70km/h.

The 1987 Landcruiser rolled seven times and came to rest on its side.

Family and friends in two four-wheel-drive vehicles were travelling in convoy at the time of the crash.

It is understood the son of the dead couple was in the other vehicle.

Police have yet to establish if Mrs Son was the mother of Mr Yim or Mrs Kim but said she had arrived in New Zealand on June 28.

The wreckage was towed from the scene early yesterday. It had been left on the beach overnight after crash team investigators worked against a rising tide and darkness to carry out a scene examination.

Acting Sergeant Stu Kearns, of the North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney district serious crash unit, said police could not legally enforce the speed limit at the beach without proper signs. That issue was raised yesterday with the Rodney District Council, he said.

"Those [speed limit] signs should be there. We have and we will be continuing to bring it to the council's attention in the hope they will do something about it."

Rodney District roading manager Barry George said he was unaware police had contacted the council about signage.

The council had "advisory signs" in place in the area but he could not comment on signs in relation to the accident site until he received more information about the crash.

Auckland Four Wheel Drive Club president Graham Pike said some people who were driving such vehicles were "completely unprepared".

He urged drivers to take a four-wheel-drive course, especially before driving to beaches and forests.

Many were unaware of simple tips for driving on sand, such as lowering tyre pressure to achieve more grip and engaging the low-ratio transfer case to keep momentum on the surface.

"It actually feels slower [driving on a beach] so people tend to go faster and their speed creeps up. Unfortunately higher speeds can, in certain vehicles, cause instability."

Membership in four-wheel-drive clubs was rising and new clubs were springing up. Members did not drive more than 60km/h on beaches for safety reasons, said Mr Pike.

Lance Vervoort, director of parks at the Auckland Regional Council, said a working party was convened two years ago to discuss growing beach use by four-wheel-drive vehicles.