Fatal Crash - Temuka

A 25 year old man has died following a motor vehicle crash on Boiling Down Road, Temuka.

At 9.30 pm the police were notified of a person behaving in a disorderly manner at an address on Boiling Down Road. When the officers attended they stopped and spoke to the driver of a vehicle who was leaving.

While talking to the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle he accelerated away. By the time the officers turned their vehicle around and began to follow the car it had already covered a considerable distance.

The dead man was found still in his vehicle which had crashed after he had lost control.

It is clear that the cause of the crash was a combination of three factors.

When spoken to the driver appeared to be severely intoxicated, he was traveling at a speed which was estimated to be considerable more than the speed limited and thirdly he was not wearing a seat belt.

Inspector Dave Gaskin, Mid South Canterbury Police Area Commander has confirmed that although a full investigation will be carried out it appears the attending officers had correctly followed set procedures and their actions had had played no part in the tragic outcome.

This is yet another case when a young man has lost his life through a number of poor choices and the deadly combination of alcohol and speed.

The matter will be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Authority.