Police officer cleared over crash which killed Judd Hall

Right, the scene of the crash. Left, Judd Hall. Photo / Grey Star, supplied

A police officer who followed a car that later crashed into a house on the West Coast, killing a passenger, has been cleared of any misconduct.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) today released a report into an incident that led to the death of Judd Hall in Greymouth in January.

The IPCA found that the police officer involved was justified in following the speeding car in a bid to get it to stop.

Jordan McGrath was driving the Subaru that crashed, killing Mr Hall.

Mr Hall, 26, had been picked up from his home in Runanga by his mates who had invited him to a party in Kumara.

The IPCA said that about 10.45pm on January 24 a Greymouth police officer saw the car McGrath was driving travelling at speed.

The officer decided to try to talk to the driver and followed the car with his police lights on.

He lost sight of the car before coming across it crashed into a house.

McGrath and passenger Kori Jeffcoat received significant injuries but Mr Hall died at the scene.

The IPCA found that the officer was unable to catch up to the Subaru before the crash occurred and was never close enough to the car to be able to signal the driver to stop.

The officer therefore was not engaged in a 'pursuit' as defined in police policy.

IPCA head Sir David Carruthers said: "This was an accident caused by the actions of Mr McGrath, who was driving dangerously and in excess of the blood alcohol limit for a person of his age. Mr McGrath's actions resulted in the tragic loss of life of one of his passengers."

Following the accident McGrath was charged with manslaughter, dangerous driving causing injury and driving with excess blood alcohol.

McGrath pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison with a non-parole period of two years. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.

Mr Hall's death was the subject of a post on Cameron Slater's WhaleOil blog which sparked outrage when Slater called Mr Hall "feral".