Southland farmer crushed in fatal quad bike rollover, coroner finds

A Southland farmer died after becoming trapped beneath a quad bike when an unsecured attachment caused the vehicle to roll, a coroner has found.

David Ian O’Callaghan, 59, died on July 26, 2024, at a farm property on Blackhill Rd, near Wendon.

The cause of death was positional asphyxia following a quad bike rollover.

O’Callaghan was a Waikaka-based farmer with more than 38 years’ experience in the dairy industry.

He had been using the quad bike with a “chow-cutter” attachment on the front - a wedge-shaped implement used to cut and flatten feed.

Coroner Heather McKenzie found the attachment, which weighed about 20kg and extended roughly 1m from the front of the bike, was not securely fastened.

It was mounted using hooks and held in place only by its own weight.

Evidence from the Police Serious Crash Unit indicated the chow-cutter became detached while O’Callaghan was riding across a hillside.

Investigators found the detached cutter partially embedded in the ground, suggesting it had caught or “gripped” the terrain after falling from the bike.

The bike then ran over the attachment, causing it to become unstable and roll.

“O’Callaghan fell from the seat during the rollover and the quad bike came to rest on top of him,” the findings said.

The crash was not witnessed.

O’Callaghan had been due to leave home about 4pm to visit family but did not return.

After his phone went unanswered, a search was launched later that evening.

He was found by a worker and a family member lying on his back in a paddock, with the quad bike on top of him.

Emergency services were called, but he could not be revived.

Police found no evidence of suspicious circumstances, and toxicology results were negative.

Investigators also determined there were no mechanical faults with the quad bike.

The Serious Crash Unit concluded the detachment of the chow-cutter was the primary cause of the crash.

There was no indication that speed, fatigue, or environmental conditions contributed.

O’Callaghan’s partner told police he was experienced with quad bikes but had rolled them on other occasions.

WorkSafe New Zealand investigated the incident but took no further action.

However, it has reiterated safety advice for quad bike use, including fitting rollover protection, ensuring attachments are secure, and wearing helmets.

Coroner McKenzie did not make additional recommendations, noting existing safety guidance was sufficient.

She extended condolences to O’Callaghan’s family.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.