Four people killed in a crash south of Whangarei this year could have been saved if they had worn seatbelts, an inquest was told yesterday.
Mirinoa Thelma Tua, 27, Richard Kennedy Heremaia, 27, their son Waitai DeShaeza Tua-Heremaia, 20 months, and Jarod Mark Leslie Nichols, 15, died after the van they were in left State Highway 1, at Oakleigh, on March 21.
Jarod Nichols, who was unlicensed, had been driving the van.
Constable Richard Brown told Whangarei coroner Peter Mahood that if the four had been wearing seatbelts they might have survived, especially the three passengers.
- NZPA
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