Several elements in teen death

RESPECTS: Samantha Mouat's coffin is towed around the track at Baypark Speedway in tribute.

Six factors contributed to the death of Tauranga teenage speedway driver Samantha Body-Mouat, a private investigator has revealed.

John McCallum said they included driver inexperience, a sticky clay surface, front suspension, square-shaped corner fence of the race track, fence giving way on impact and lack of appropriate medical personnel at the derby.

The 15-year-old's safety equipment appeared to have been in good condition and was correctly fitted, he said.

Mr McCallum was hired by Speedway New Zealand to investigate the crash. He has subsequently become a director of the organisation.

He gave evidence at the inquest in Whangarei yesterday into Samantha's death after she crashed a car into a concrete wall while competing in the Easter Stampede and Demolition Derby on April 3, 2010.

The inquest, before Northland Coroner Brandt Shortland, began on Monday and finished yesterday.

Samantha's mother, Lisa Strydom, told the hearing she believed the sport was safe but could be made safer.

Ms Strydom said she did not want other parents to go through the pain and agony she experienced at being left at Whangarei Hospital by herself in rain after seeing her child die in front of her.

But Ms Strydom said, considering that her daughter was the only mini-stock car driver killed in 14 years, the sport was safe, but could be safer.

Samantha took meticulous care of her racing car and there was nothing more her family could have done to make it more safe, she said.

Her daughter wasn't just a normal 14 or 15-year-old as she was responsible for the lives of children at an aquatic facility and someone children turned to for advice.

Samantha would not compete to push limits and was not concerned about coming first or second but was just happy to be out there, she said.

Holding a picture of Samantha, an emotional Ms Strydom said everyone saw her child as a racer rather than just a normal girl.

She had bought her own car in January of the year she died.

Ms Strydom also called on the inquest to define the role of several agencies that attend serious crashes after her experience dealing with the police Serious Crash Unit and the then-Department of Labour.

When Ms Strydom asked what the minimum medical standard was in a race watched by 400 to 500 people, Mr McCallum said provision of suitable first aid, an appropriate first-aid team, an ambulance and a doctor.

The Bay of Plenty Times yesterday reported the inquest was told there were no St John Ambulance staff or a first aid kit at the speedway track when Samantha died. The coroner has given those wishing to file further written submissions until October 18 to do so.