Father criticised for letting 14-year-old daughter drive

11.45am

The father of a 14-year-old Northland girl who died after a car crash has been criticised for letting his daughter drive.

Whangarei coroner Max Atkins has released his findings in the inquest into the death of Jade Myra McKenzie, of Waipapa, near Kerikeri, and he was heavily critical of her father Archie McKenzie.

At an inquest in Whangarei on September 15, Mr Atkins heard evidence that Jade had been driving a utility vehicle in Russell, about 6.20pm on March 14, before crashing into a tree.

She was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital where she died from severe brain injury.

"The accident would not have happened if Mr McKenzie had been acting responsibly in regard to Jade's care and protection, because she would not have been allowed to drive the vehicle," Mr Atkins found.

Toxicology reports from Environmental Science and Research presented at the inquest showed Jade had consumed alcohol and cannabis at the time of her death.

The vehicle was not registered and its warrant of fitness had expired in October 1999.

A written statement from Ngaere Gough, an acquaintance of Mr McKenzie, said Jade was allowed to drive the ute up the country road, to a cul-de-sac and back again.

In his findings, Mr Atkins said he was concerned that Mr McKenzie, and to some extent Ms Gough, had allowed Jade to drive at all.

"Even a minor level of parental discipline should have ensured that permission to drive or to 'try' to drive on her own was refused."


- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)