The truck collided with the driver's side of the car. Linda died at the scene from multiple injuries and Steph died three weeks later in hospital from traumatic brain injuries.
Coroner Tim Scott. Photo/File
The only other eyewitness, Graham Hercock, told the inquest he saw the two vehicles approximately 150-200m away but "only for a short time".
He was traveling along Rangitikei Line towards Sanson and said when he saw the vehicles, the car was across both lanes – in the path of the truck.
Coroner Tim Scott stated in his report Steph had been driving for about two years. It was usual for her to drive the family car alongside her mother, particularly as this was a manual vehicle.
In determining why Steph made a decision to turn in front of the truck, Scott considered three options; either she did not see it, she thought she had enough time to make it across the road or, the truck had its left indicator on.
Smith said he had not used his left indicator and had accidentally turned this on after the crash.
Scott checked CCTV footage of the truck showing no indicators or headlights in use. He held the inquest to test evidence relating to the indicator as this may have explained Steph's actions.
But he determined this was not the case.
"That leaves only one possible explanation and that is that she simply did not see the truck.
"What happened was the result of simple driving error," Scott concluded.
