Drunk, tired and drugged: Inside the crash that killed two young men

Friday, 1 April 2022

It was early Sunday morning when the lives of two strangers were cut short in a fatal crash. One was on his way to work, while the other had slept only six hours in the past two days, was over the alcohol limit and had cannabis and a synthetic stimulant in his system. Sam Sherwood reports.

Jordan Gow got out of bed about 5.30am on June 14, 2020 and started getting ready for work.

The 26-year-old, based in Christchurch, was due to start his shift as a chef in Rangiora, North Canterbury, at 7am.

The talented musician had spent the previous night with his twin brother, Josh, recording music and watching clips from their gig the night before.

Meanwhile, about 10 kilometres away, Tane Anderson was driving into the BP Petrol Station forecourt on Russley Rd.

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**

The 20-year-old apprentice electrician had only slept about six hours in the previous 48 hours when he pulled up. He was also drunk, and had cannabis and a synthetic stimulant drug in his system.

At 6.39am Anderson left the forecourt, driving over a kerb and grass verge, driving past a wrong way sign before entering the motorway on the wrong side of the road. His headlights were off and he was not wearing a seatbelt.

At the same time, Gow was driving his Subaru Impreza north on Russley Rd, near the Memorial Arches on the flyover near Christchurch Airport, in the same northbound lane.

Anderson had only driven about 1km when his car collided head-on with Gow’s. There was no indication either driver braked before the collision. Both men died at the scene.

Almost two years on, the coroner released her findings to Stuff, in which she concluded Anderson’s impaired driving caused the crash.

Night out turns into tragedy

Tane Anderson was a keen rugby player who loved fishing, diving and art and was proud of his Māori heritage.

The 20-year-old stayed at a friend’s house on June 12, and the following day went diving with a group in Motunau, about 80km north of Christchurch, arriving back in the afternoon with some crayfish.

His evening started watching rugby at his Rangiora home, before catching up with friends in Christchurch, both at people’s homes and in town.

About 1am on June 14, Anderson arrived at a party in Strowan with friends. The group was drinking alcohol, and Anderson reportedly had cannabis. He left the party and dropped some friends home.

The party’s host said he seemed “pretty normal”, but also “pretty tired”. She asked him if he wanted to stay at her house, but he said no as he had work in the morning.

It was not unusual for Anderson to sleep in his ute, a white 1998 Toyota Hilux, if he had been drinking, or was tired and not up to driving.

The coroner said it appeared Anderson intended to stay at a friend’s place in New Brighton, instead of driving back to Rangiora.

He called the friend about 1.30am and asked if he could bring some friends over for some drinks, however the friend was not home and said he did not want the group there when he was out, but Anderson could stay on his own.

The friend thought Anderson was drunk, but when he called he “seemed all good”. He did not hear from Anderson again.

After leaving the party Anderson drove around, however his exact movements from 4.45am until he arrived at the petrol station almost two hours later are not known.

While at the petrol station, a glow could be seen in Anderson’s car, indicating he may have been using his phone. However, phone records did not show any calls or texts being made or received while he was there.

When Anderson left the petrol station, he drove south over the car park kerb, across a garden and grass verge, entered an entry lane the wrong way, and hit the southern kerb.

He stopped, reversed, hit the northern kerb, turned left and drove east towards Russley Rd, entering the road via a slip lane travelling south.

He passed a wrong way warning sign while leaving the area and used the entry lane as an exit lane.

At 6.39am he was seen travelling south, but in the northbound lane without his headlights on.

A motorist travelling north on Russley Rd called police to report Anderson’s driving. Police believe the person was still on the phone when the two cars collided.

After passing the motorist in the opposite lane, Anderson moved into the inner lane.

At the same time, Gow was driving north on Russley Rd in the same lane as Anderson.

Gow was excited about his new job as a drum teacher at a music school he was due to start the following day. But he would not make it.

About 6.40am the vehicles collided head-on, before rotating in a clockwise direction, and coming to rest facing east/west.

At 9.30am, Gow’s partner received a phone call from his workmate asking where he was as he had not turned up, which was unusual. When she found out a crash had occurred, she went to the scene only to discover it was Gow.

Speed and alcohol factors in crash

The road had a speed limit of 80kmh. Anderson’s speedometer was locked at 98kmh at the time of the crash and the police’s Serious Crash Unit (SCU) estimated Gow was driving 109kmh. It appeared Anderson was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. In his car was a 1.25L bottle of vodka guarana energy drink and an empty box of beer.

The SCU report found the crash likely occurred due to a combination of factors, including that Anderson was likely suffering from acute sleep loss.

Other factors were alcohol and drugs. Anderson had 72mg per 100ml of alcohol in his blood. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He had also consumed cannabis and a synthetic stimulant drug, methylmethcathinone. The ESR report said the combined use of cannabis and alcohol tended to accentuate the effects of alcohol.

“The dangers of driving after using cannabis are due to taking longer to respond to events, reduced ability to think clearly, and reduced ability to pay attention. The effects of cannabis may include distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving and loss of coordination.”

Coroner Heather McKenzie said Anderson’s driving was the sole reason for the crash.

She said even if Gow had been driving 80kmh he would have had a “limited opportunity” to avoid the collision with an oncoming vehicle travelling approximately 95kmh, without its headlights on and in the wrong lane. A wire safety barrier on the raised traffic island separating the four lanes would mean a motorist would have no reason to suspect an oncoming car could accidentally drift across the centre line.

The coroner concluded a combination of Anderson’s lack of sleep, and the presence of alcohol and drugs in his system likely impaired his driving.

“Impaired driving is supported by the manner in which Mr Anderson left the petrol station and then drove the incorrect way on a major road. Such driving behaviour would not be expected of an unimpaired driver.”

The coroner said there was no evidence that Anderson intentionally drove into Gow’s car with the intention of taking his own life.

She declined to make any recommendations as the matters were the subject of ongoing, widespread campaigns by police and other agencies across the country.

‘It’s just not fair’

Anderson’s family could not be reached. His father, Haki Anderson, earlier said his family was “completely devastated”.

“Our heart goes out to the other family. We extend them our deepest sympathies and love.”

Anderson, a former pupil at St Bede's College, played in the college's 1st XV and was an age-group representative rugby player.

“He was a lovely young man who had the world at his feet … just cut too short,” he said.

Gow’s mother, Penny Violetto, said nearly two years on she still could not quite comprehend what happened and continued to grieve for her son.

Violetto, who lives in Florida, flew to New Zealand after the crash. When she returned home she started attending meetings with other parents who had lost a child.

“I have tried to keep my mind busy, but I still wake up every morning thinking about how much I miss Jordan then worry about how Josh must be feeling… Josh and I have been in contact almost every day since I've been back… I do my best to keep in contact with my friends and family in New Zealand who have been a great support.”

She was unable to attend a memorial for her son on the first anniversary of his death. She hopes to be in the country for the second anniversary, but is waiting on her husband’s visa to be approved.

Josh Gow said he continues to struggle daily, with music one of the few things getting him through. Since his brother’s death he has released some of his brother’s music and is planning another album.

“If you asked me how long it's been, for me, it still feels like yesterday. The emotion is still very raw… just dealing with the fact that my brother is gone, just vanished.

“Music was very important to us, it was our passion, it was our goal. We found music together, we started together, and we stayed together. We were a unit, we were a team and continuing that for me is really the only thing that helps, it's an outlet for me, and it gives me a purpose.”

Reading the coroner’s report was “pretty shocking”, he said.

“Although I didn't see [the crash], it's left me with trauma, just the imagination of his last breath. Being instant the way it was he probably felt no pain, but I feel like the pain is just passed down to the friends and the family,” he said.

“I suppose the main thing about it is it's just not fair.”

His message to other drivers considering getting behind the wheel when they’re tired and drunk was to think of the risk.

“It's almost like you're a ticking time bomb in that car.

“You really have to take a step back and value yourself and others and would you really want to put yourself in that danger. It's not that hard really to be responsible and call a cab or ask someone for help.”

Asked if he could ever forgive Anderson, Gow said there are two ways he looks at it.

“I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him, but I feel like a part of me needs to, to move on as well. There's no excuse for what he's done at all, and I don't think there ever will be.'

Stuff visited the crash scene with Gow. He found it hard standing near the spot where his brother died.

“This is the last thing my brother saw… he just had no idea this would be the last thing,” he said.

“It seems like a safe place to drive.”

A bunch of flowers had been tied to the barrier near where the two men had been killed. He’s happy the flowers have remained in tribute to his brother.

“Every time I drive past here, I always have a word to myself in my head, just saying that I miss him and I love him, and I'm still here doing the things that we love, and I'll carry on.

“For as long as I live, I live for my brother as well.”