Teen crash victim's family say coroner on personal 'crusade'

The car in which Matthew Gunson died. Picture / Northern Advocate

A schoolboy sporting star was four times over the alcohol limit when he died in a car crash after drinking in a Whangarei bar.

Whangarei coroner Max Atkins has found that the alcohol content in 17-year-old Matthew Gunson's body was "clearly established" as one of the circumstances of the teenager's death in the early hours of July 3, 2004.

But Matthew's family says the fact he was not wearing a seatbelt was the main reason for his death - and family members have criticised the coroner for using the inquest as a personal "crusade".

The Whangarei Boys' High student and Northland age-group rugby player was drinking with friends at Rynoz Bar before crashing off the road near Pataua North at 3.45am. Four teenage passengers survived. Matthew and two 17-year-old friends had been served alcohol at the bar.

The bar's owner at that time had "made an admission on matters of responsibility", the coroner said during the hearing. The ownership of Rynoz has since changed hands.

In his findings released yesterday, Mr Atkins warned bar staff against serving alcohol to people under 18 years of age. "In this case three 17-year-olds were served alcohol for several hours and one of them admitted the proprietor knew her age," he said.

Mr Atkins hoped those supplying or consuming alcohol - or driving or being a passenger in a vehicle after alcohol had been consumed - would accept greater responsibility as a result of the tragedy.

"The lesson to be learned is we must look after each other much more on social occasions," he said.

People accompanying designated drivers should ensure their alcohol intake remained low, while bar staff should identify drivers and also take responsibility, he said.

Matthew's father, Craig Gunson, said the family was disappointed at the coroner's findings, saying Mr Atkins had used the inquest as "a crusade promoting a particular person's viewpoint".

The passengers had behaved in a "highly responsible" manner on the night his son died, Mr Gunson said.

Matthew's death hit a nerve in Northland in the winter of 2004. His death was the 20th on Northland's roads that year, with six of the deceased aged under 20.

More than 800 people attended his funeral where he was remembered as a mischievous kid, a gifted rugby player, a loyal friend and a loving son and brother.

The coroner said that after leaving Rynoz Bar between 2am and 3am, Matthew, the group's designated driver, and four teenage friends including his brother, drove toward Pataua North.

But their car crashed shortly before reaching their destination, a family bach. Matthew had not been wearing a seatbelt and died from head injuries after being thrown from the car.

Mr Atkins said all four passengers had been wearing seatbelts. If Matthew had also been belted up, he would have likely survived. He had taken off his belt minutes earlier, after stopping to comfort a sick passenger.

Matthew's alcohol reading was 133mg per 100ml of blood - more than four times over the 30mg limit for those 20 and under. The limit for adults is 80mg per 100ml of blood.

Lawyer for the Gunson family, Wayne Peters, said in the coroner's court that Matthew's blood-alcohol level was not a relevant circumstance as it was not a proven cause of the crash. But Mr Atkins said blood-alcohol level was "clearly established" as one of the circumstances of the death and had to be taken into account.

There was no suggestion of excessive speed or careless driving, he added.

A report from Whangarei police Senior Constable Warren Bunn said: "It is most probable this collision was caused by fatigue and alcohol and the death of Matthew was caused by the lack of wearing his seatbelt."

Mr Atkins said Matthew's death was a reminder seatbelts should be worn at all times and tired drivers should take breaks.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)