Coroner: 'Evil' drug must be stamped out

A Whangarei coroner says the death of a motorcyclist in a crash is further proof that the "evil" of methamphetamine needs to be stamped out.

Coroner Max Atkins held an inquest into the death of Lewis Brian Prescott, 42, of Ruakaka.

Mr Atkins found that Mr Prescott died on State Highway 12, south of Whangarei, on February 21 from multiple injuries after his motorcycle crashed into a horse truck travelling in the opposite direction.

"The deceased was riding too fast to negotiate a bend and went onto the wrong side of the road and hit a horse truck," Mr Atkins said.

A toxicology report showed 0.07 milligrams of methamphetamine per litre of blood in Mr Prescott's system, a level "within the range found in people involved in accidents or arrested for erratic driving".

It was not possible to determine when Mr Prescott took the drug, how much he took, or if he was affected by it at the time of his death.

Sergeant Janine Attwood-Graham, of Whangarei, told the court that a methamphetamine pipe was found in Mr Prescott's clothing at the crash scene.

Blood analysis also showed 112mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

"It is a tragedy that the deceased was a user of methamphetamine, which it is reasonable to assume was a contributing factor together with alcohol in causing this tragic accident," Mr Atkins said.

"This is further proof, if further proof be needed, that the evil of methamphetamine needs to be stamped out."

Deborah Collett, the horse truck's driver, said the motorcycle appeared to be flopping from side to side and out of control as it came towards her.

Witness John MacNaughtan said he was following the horse truck, when the crash happened.

He said the rider appeared to be standing on the pegs of the motorcycle and holding onto the handlebars, as if trying to control it, before it slammed into the horse truck.

Glen McConchie, a friend of Mr Prescott, said he had been drinking with him earlier that day and the pair had three handles at one hotel and two or three more at another.

As far as he was aware, Mr Prescott did not have methamphetamine that day.

- NZPA