KEY POINTS:
A Taranaki man who drowned after driving down the boat ramp at Waitara's Marine Park last year was "severely alcohol impaired", Coroner Timothy Scott has found.
Michael Patu was more than two times over the legal driving limit when he "free wheeled" his ute and trailer, vehicle first, down the ramp and into the river on September 9, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
Police believe Mr Patu died when an attempt to dump grass clippings from his lawn mowing business went wrong.
Mr Scott said the decision to go down the ramp vehicle first defied all logic "and I conclude it was a result of his alcohol impairment".
Mr Patu had let his unwarranted utility "free run" in neutral down the ramp, controlling the speed with the foot brake that did not have a normal rubber cover.
"The probability is that his foot slipped off the brake and alcohol caused or contributed to that happening."
The vehicle hit rocks on the river bed and water flooded the cab.
- NZPA
