Arrested officer's crash tragedy

Jonathan Erwood

Suspended Taranaki policeman Jonathan Erwood asked to be allowed to console the partner of one of those killed in a double fatality before being taken away by police, emergency workers have revealed.

After responding on his day off to emergency calls about a double fatality crash, Erwood discovered that one of the victims, Clint Ratima, was a close friend he had been playing golf with earlier in the day.

Mr Ratima, 32, was driving home from Erwood's place when the accident happened, about 5.20pm on July 9.

The 37-year-old sole-charge policeman at the remote settlement of Mokau, northeast of New Plymouth, was breath-tested at the crash scene by a highway patrolman who said he smelled alcohol on his breath.

Blood testing allegedly revealed 106 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Erwood entered no plea to the charge when he appeared at the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday, and was remanded to appear on August 17.

The decision to charge Erwood has outraged many in Mokau, including volunteer emergency workers who attended the Sunday evening accident.

Mokau deputy fire chief Graham Putt said Erwood should have been commended for responding to the emergency on his day off, rather than being charged with drink-driving.

He said he did not know Erwood had been drinking until Erwood was pulled aside by a highway patrolman who arrived at the accident about 30 minutes after the local fire service.

"Jono was in the passenger's seat [of a police car] with an officer in the driver's seat and another officer in the back seat. Jono hopped out of the car and said, 'I'm buggered, Putty, I'm buggered'. He said, 'They have breathalysed me, I had a few drinks before I came here'."

Mr Putt said the arresting officer appeared eager to take Erwood back to the Waitara police station for processing. Erwood arranged to be allowed to console the partner of one of those killed in the crash, said Mr Putt.

"He gave the girl a hug, and next thing this officer was tapping him on the shoulder.

"Jono moved a few metres away and continued consoling this girl, and next thing the constable's over there again tapping him on the shoulder saying, 'Come on, Jono, we have to go'."

Mr Ratima, 32, of Aria, and Jennifer Trentham, a 48-year-old New Plymouth physiotherapist, died in the crash. Mrs Trentham's husband, Richard, was taken to Taranaki Hospital with serious injuries.

Police investigators say Mr Ratima, driving north, failed to take a corner and hit the Trenthams.

Allan Jones, also a volunteer member of the Mokau Fire Service, said Erwood did not know that one of those killed was his friend until he discovered Mr Ratima's body.

"Clint [Ratima] had a little dog, a little fox terrier and I saw the dog lying on the side of the road dead. I thought, 'Gee I have seen this dog before'," Mr Jones said.

"It didn't click. It was a shock when we realised who it was'."

The sister of the officer who breath-tested Erwood has defended her brother and criticised the defendant.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB yesterday "Patrice" criticised Erwood for allowing Mr Ratima to drive after drinking at his house, and said her brother breath-tested him after smelling alcohol on his breath.

"I think people need to be aware that policeman let someone who'd been drinking out to drive and take off in his car," she said. "And to me that's not right, he's a cop for God's sake."

She said her brother had endured "hell" since deciding to charge Erwood.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said a drink driving conviction was always "fatal" for a police officer's career, but he believed the circumstances of Erwood's case meant that a precedent should be set.

The association supported both officers, and was paying Erwood's legal fees.