Pregnant crash victim may have been eating pie: Coroner

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A pregnant woman who died when she crashed into a powerpole may have been eating a pie at the time, according to a coroner's report.

Melissa Mahia, who worked at Mr Apple Coolstores in Whakatu, Hastings was driving away from the market store last November when she lost control of her car.

The report says the 27-year-old's vehicle, a green Lexus ES300, hit a wooden pole on the side of Ruahapia Rd in Hastings.

Ms Mahia, who was 12 weeks pregnant at the time, was found dead in the car, which she used to get to and from work.

Senior Constable Pye, who completed the investigation, said Ms Mahia may have been eating a pie at the time of the crash.

A half-eaten pie was found in the driver's area and a post-mortem examination found partially digested food in her stomach.

The crash occurred in a 100km/h zone. Witness Alan Wright told police Ms Mahia's car was following another quite closely as the vehicles approached a corner.

"[It was] closing in very quickly behind the brown car in front," the report said.

"I wondered if the two cars were racing."

He said Ms Mahia's car was starting to fishtail - skidding from side to side - as it entered the corner.

"I thought at the time it was going so quickly it would not make the bend."

Coroner Chris Devonport said in his report it was possible Ms Mahia was distracted by the pie, which in combination with the high speed she was driving at, contributed to the crash.