Christchurch man died trying to stop runaway utility terrain vehicle
Thursday, 23 July 2026
A Christchurch man who tried to stop a runaway utility terrain vehicle (UTV) after it began rolling down a steep driveway died after being thrown from the vehicle’s rear cargo tray, a coroner says.
Jonathan Trevor Hawkins, 53, died in Christchurch Hospital four days after suffering catastrophic head injuries in the crash on a lifestyle property in Lansdowne Valley, near Tai Tapu, on December 22, 2021.
Coroner Mary Armistead found Hawkins was helping a friend trim overhanging trees from the back of a Polaris Ranger UTV as it travelled down the property’s steep driveway.
After the pair finished cutting branches, the vehicle unexpectedly began rolling downhill. The driver tried unsuccessfully to stop it before jumping clear and urging Hawkins to do the same. Instead, Hawkins remained in the rear cargo tray and reached forward in an attempt to steer the vehicle to safety.
The UTV gathered speed before rolling, throwing Hawkins onto the grass verge. He suffered a skull fracture and traumatic brain injury. Despite emergency surgery, he died in hospital on Boxing Day.
A serious crash unit investigation found no mechanical fault or environmental factor that caused the vehicle to begin moving unexpectedly. Investigators found Hawkins had tried to control the vehicle from the cargo tray as it sped downhill, but it was not possible to reach the brake pedal from there.
Hawkins was not wearing a seat belt or helmet because he was travelling in the rear cargo tray rather than inside the UTV’s cab. The coroner said it was possible the outcome may have been different had he been in the passenger seat wearing a seat belt and helmet.
She noted both the manufacturer’s owner’s manual and WorkSafe guidance make clear passengers should never travel in a UTV’s rear cargo tray because they could be thrown from the vehicle in a crash.
Rather than making formal recommendations, the coroner highlighted key safety messages for UTV users: passengers should ride only in designated seats, wear seat belts, and always use recommended protective gear, including helmets.