Crash duo drank into small hours, court told

The driver of a ute that crashed off a bridge into a river after a night of drinking at a hotel near Masterton, killing himself and his partner, was more than 2 1/2 times over the legal alcohol limit, an inquest heard.

Dannevirke coroner Stuart Smith found that Tinui couple John Lindsay Seymour and Nichaela Frances McCarthy, both 35, died by drowning in the August 2003 accident but reserved his full findings.

Mr Seymour and Ms McCarthy had spent the evening at the Tinui Hotel attending a Tinui Tennis Club function.

Publican Bruce Andrews said his licence allowed him to keep the premises open only until 3.30am, and about this time he began trying to remove the remaining patrons.

Mr Seymour and Ms McCarthy were among the last to leave, about 4.30am.

Questioned by the coroner, Mr Andrews said he noticed that a woman with the last group was not drinking much and assumed she would be driving them home.

Constable Bruce Farley said the crash occurred when the car driven by Mr Seymour crashed through the Black Swamp Bridge and plunged nearly 8m into the river below. Mr Farley found no evidence of excessive speed.

Mr Seymour had a blood alcohol level of 262mg per 100ml of blood, and Ms McCarthy had a reading of 200mg. The legal limit for driving is 80mg.

Mr Andrews appeared in the Masterton District Court in December 2003, charged with allowing persons on licensed premises after hours, and was given diversion.

- NZPA