Alcohol and cannabis in fatal crash driver's blood, no seatbelt worn

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Ross Jones Wallace was travelling South on SH1 at the time of the fatal accident. (file photo)

A man who died after rolling his car into a Marlborough vineyard had alcohol and cannabis in his system and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, a coroner has found.

Ross Jones Wallace, also known as Ross Jones Puna, of Seddon, died at State Highway 1, Riverlands on July 12.

Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale said in her report Wallace, 53, died from a head injury after his vehicle failed to take a bend and it rolled into a vineyard several times.

Coroner Borrowdale issued a warning in the report about the dangers of drinking and smoking cannabis before getting behind the wheel, after both substances were found in Wallace’s system.

* Seddon man Ross Jones Wallace named as driver killed in Riverlands crash near Blenheim

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Ross Jones Wallace, 53, died in July last year, when his car failed to take a bend and rolled several times.

A post-mortem found Wallace had a blood alcohol reading of 186 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit for someone 20 and over is 50mg.

Blood tests also showed cannabis in his system.

The report said on the day of the crash, a workmate dropped Wallace home to the Awatere Motor Camp at midday.

Wallace later went to the Woodbourne Tavern in Renwick, where he was seen drinking beer.

A workmate said “he was in a happy mood and did not appear to be intoxicated” when he spoke to him at the tavern.

At about 6.20pm on July 12, Wallace left the Woodbourne Tavern in his vehicle.

A short time late was seen straying across a fog-line painted on the outer edge of his lane as he entered a right-hand bend while he was driving on SH1, south of Blenheim.

Wallace was then observed crossing the centre-line, into the westbound lane, the report said.

His vehicle returned to the eastbound lane, before mounting the bank of the adjacent lane and rolling multiple times. He was thrown from the vehicle.

A passing motorist rushed to the crash scene, and emergency staff were called, but Wallace’s injuries were fatal.

Wallace had no known medical conditions and was generally fit and healthy, the report said.

He had a “documented history” of alcohol and cannabis use and had convictions for alcohol and drug offences. He also had 20 speeding infringements since 1997, eight of which were in the three years before his death.

He had one conviction for drink-driving in 2019.

The Serious Crash Unit found the road was in good condition at the time of the crash.

Wallace was not wearing a seatbelt and an investigation showed he had entered the bend at 113kmh, 13km over the speed limit.

“I repeat here my encouragement to the driving public to follow the cannabis and alcohol awareness and driving safety advice that is promulgated by the Ministry of Transport, the NZTA, the NZ Drug Foundation and other entities, and abstain from driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol,” Coroner Borrowdale said.