By ELEANOR BLACK
Patrick Glynn cannot remember the accident that killed his best friend and two teenage girls, but he thinks he knows what caused it.
Reluctant to criticise Graeme Bignell, the friend who was more like a brother, he lowers his voice: "He was irresponsible."
Sixteen-year-old Graeme was driving the hatchback
that collided with a fully laden truck on Broadlands Rd, 10 kilometres north of Taupo, on March 30, killing him, Natasha Jakschik and Sarah Anderson, both 15. Patrick, aged 16, was in Waikato Hospital for a month with a serious head injury.
While Taupo coroner Morna McFarlane concluded this week that it will never be known exactly why Graeme drove directly into the path of the truck while attempting a u-turn, Patrick has an idea: lack of experience.
He says Graeme's mother had warned him not to drive with passengers on his restricted licence, but he didn't think twice before offering to take three people to a party at Fletchers Reserve, near Reporoa.
Institute of Environmental Science and Research testing found that Graeme had smoked a joint up to three or four hours before getting behind the wheel and Ms McFarlane said he was affected by cannabis at the time of the accident, although it was not clear what impact it had.
Patrick, who does not have a licence, said his friendly, outgoing and adventurous friend had driven passengers before.
"We just didn't think anything of it."
Graeme overshot the entrance to the reserve and pulled over to the side of the road, followed by another car full of teens which had missed the turnoff.
The coroner said it was possible that the headlights from the second car obscured Graeme's vision and he didn't see the coming truck, which hit the car with such force it nearly halved its width and pushed it 80 metres down the road.
Ms McFarlane recommended that drivers not only check in their rearview mirrors before making a turn, but look over their shoulders.
Natasha's mother, Dianne Jakschik, told the Weekend Herald that while the the coroner's report did not provide answers it did put the tragedy to rest.
"The truth is in the minds of the [people left behind].
"I don't blame anyone, but in saying that there is, maybe, a guilt."
She was shocked to find that her daughter's social circle used drugs and dismayed to think Natasha did not talk to her about it.
Guido Jakschik, Natasha's father, doubts his daughter would have got into the car if she knew the driver had been smoking pot.
He believes that drivers caught with drugs in their system should be penalised in the same way as drunk drivers.
"Young people are very aware of the fact that if you drink too much you shouldn't drive, but they are not aware of the influence of drugs on driving."
Patrick's mother, Meza Glynn, said her family were trying to put the accident behind them but had not come to terms with Graeme's death. He spent a lot of time at their house and was like a part of the family.
"It's not something we like to talk about anymore.
"We're trying to go on with life and pretend it didn't happen."
Cathy Anderson, Sarah's mother, was hit with a double tragedy when her partner killed himself a week after Sarah's death.
"Our lives have been sheer hell. We're doing the best we can to get back on our feet."
Now living in Rotorua, she is taking photography classes at Rotorua Girls' High School - a longtime ambition - and helping her four youngest children through their grief.
"I still don't blame Graeme Bignell at all. There were carloads of kids.
"They all had it within their power to take the keys off him."
Sarah's close friend Jason Schumacher, 18, almost gave up his studies at Waikato University following her death but says his happy memories of the girl with "the most beautiful smile in the world" keep him going.
"The first two months were a real struggle for me ...
"My only wish is that people would learn from this. Unfortunately, that wish isn't being fulfilled."
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By ELEANOR BLACK
Patrick Glynn cannot remember the accident that killed his best friend and two teenage girls, but he thinks he knows what caused it.
Reluctant to criticise Graeme Bignell, the friend who was more like a brother, he lowers his voice: "He was irresponsible."
Sixteen-year-old Graeme was driving the hatchback
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