Thursday, June 17, 2010

Coroner: Driver probably fell asleep

A Blenheim woman who died in a car crash near Okaramio last year probably fell asleep at the wheel, a coroner has found.

Beverley Anne Cross, 66, was driving home from a country music festival in Nelson when the crash happened on State Highway 6 on March 10, 2009.

She was on her way to a country music awards meeting in Blenheim.

Coroner Peter Ryan said Mrs Cross' car veered to the left after rounding a moderate left-hand bend. The car then left the road and continued down a bank.

It hit a drainage ditch, flipped and came to rest on its roof, Mr Ryan said.

An investigation of Mrs Cross' car showed no evidence of faults that may have contributed to the crash.

There were no external factors that may have caused the accident and a blood analysis showed no sign of alcohol or drugs which may have impacted her ability to drive, the coroner found.

Mr Ryan said the most likely cause of the crash was that Mrs Cross fell asleep at the wheel and was unaware her car was veering off the road.

The Marlborough Express
Last updated 12:00 17/06/2010

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