Coroner urges drivers to secure loads following death

Taylor Schouwenaars. Photo / Supplied

A coroner has stressed the importance for drivers transporting goods to properly secure their loads after a man died when a piece of timber ploughed through his truck's window.

Taylor Schouwenaars, 36, was the innocent victim of the accident north of Porirua in February last year, Wellington regional Coroner Ian Smith has found.

He was driving his 20-tonne truck on State Highway 1 when a 4x2 piece of timber protruding from a passing ute smashed into the cab and hit Mr Schouwenaars in the head, knocking him unconscious immediately.

His step-niece, 18-year-old Amiria Maihi, who was in the passengers' seat, managed to take control of the eight-wheeler Big Chill Distribution rig and bring it safely to a stop.

Mr Schouwenaars was flown to Wellington Hospital but died soon afterwards.

The driver of the ute, Mathew Stephen Cummings, said in a police interview he had heard the bang and thought the wood must have hit the side of the truck but didn't stop until he reached a lookout area.

He said he was unaware of the death until he read about it in the newspaper the next day, when he turned himself into police.

Cummings was in June last year convicted of careless driving causing death and was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $4000 reparation.

Mr Smith said Cummings had used only one ratchet strop to attempt to secure the wood, which came loose as he travelled up Ngauranga Gorge.

He had stopped to secure it but the timber came loose again and slid across until it protruded from the front-right of the vehicle.

He did not stop when an oncoming car flashed its lights to warn of the danger.

Mr Smith stressed the importance for drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe and do not pose a risk to themselves or other road users when loading and carrying goods.

He found that Mr Schouwenaars had died as a result of sustaining blunt force head injury from a motor vehicle crash.

- NZPA