A woman who died with two of her children after her car was hit by a truck near Hastings five months ago had all but stopped at the side of the road when she made a sudden turn into the heavy vehicle's path, a coroner has been told.
The truck driver's
recollections of the tragic last seconds before the crash on Longlands Rd about 12.15pm on January 14 were made to police and conveyed in a report to Eastern District coroner Chris Devonport.
Killed as a result of the crash were car driver and Central Hawke's Bay woman Bobbie-Jo Krystal Tua, 26, and children Elijah Meihana Junior Tua-Hapuku-Te Nahu, aged 5, and Ezekial Whakawaireka Tua, 22 months.
Mr Devonport's report and findings say the stock truck and its empty trailer were westbound on Longlands Rd when a car ahead, and travelling in the same direction, pulled on to the grass verge.
The truck driver told police he moved across towards the oncoming lane to give the occupants of the car room if they intended to get out of the vehicle, but the car then started a u-turn in front of him.
He braked heavily and was unable to avoid the impact in the eastbound lane.
He told police he could see the car's driver and she was looking straight-ahead and not at his truck as he approached.
It was a 100km/h limit stretch of road and the truck was travelling at a minimum speed of 74-76km/h at the time of braking in fine and dry conditions.
Vehicle inspections did not reveal any mechanical factors that would have contributed to the crash, although the car's two front tyres were not up to standard, and the warrant of fitness and registration had expired in March and April last year.
The coroner found Ms Tua and her children had died from injuries received in the crash. No alcohol or drugs were detected in the drivers' toxicology tests.
