Burnouts and vandalism at Hastings intersection contributed to death of Canadian tourist Helen Poon
Helen Poon, a 34-year-old local government politician from Canada, died after a crash at a vandalised intersection.
Photo:
Open Justice / Coroners Court
A friend of a Canadian woman who died after a crash at a vandalised intersection has got a message for the people who damaged road signs and obliterated road markings by doing burnouts.
"The consequences of their stupidity and their immaturity are going to live on forever," says Margareta Dovgal, who was a passenger in the car Helen Poon was driving when they crashed on 30 December, 2023.
"I want the people who did what they did … to understand the consequences of messing with critical safety infrastructure.
"Anyone who thinks that, you know, pulling out traffic signs is a responsible thing to do, [should] understand that, no, it's a matter of life or death."
Poon and Dovgal were on a driving holiday in New Zealand in a borrowed Audi coupe when they approached the intersection of State Highway 50 and Maraekakaho Rd near Hastings.
Poon drove through the intersection without stopping and collided with a Toyota Landcruiser.
The 34-year-old local government politician from Port Albani in British Columbia died in Wellington Hospital five days later from the complications of blunt force trauma.
A findings report from Coroner Mark Wilton released on Tuesday included photographs of damage caused to the intersection by "anti-social driving behaviour".
A photograph taken on the day of the crash showed that road markings at the intersection were not visible.
A give way sign was missing and the other had been turned around to face the other way.
The intersection of Maraekakaho Rd and State Highway 50 near Hastings. This photo was taken on 30 December, 2023, the day of the collision which claimed the life of Canadian tourist Helen Poon.
Photo:
Open Justice / Coroners Court
Chevron boards on a post opposite the T-junction had been removed.
Coroner Wilton said the damage to the intersection was a contributing factor to the collision.
"There was no clear indication, by way of signage or road markings from Ms Poon's point of view, that she was required to give way," he said in his findings.
Another photograph, taken after the intersection had been refurbished, provided what he called a "stark difference".
It makes obvious the requirement to give way at that location.
Coroner Wilton said Poon's death highlighted the consequences anti-social driving and burnouts can have.
"The damage caused to the road and the environment endangers the safety and lives of all New Zealand road users," he said.
"I encourage those drivers to disengage from such driving behaviour and follow the road rules."
The coroner said that people had continued to damage the intersection even after the collision.
He recommended that the New Zealand Transport Agency consider how to further deter anti-social driving, and arrange regular checks of the intersection to ensure the road markings remained visible.
Canadian friends Helen Poon (left) and Margareta Dovgal were travelling New Zealand together when they were involved in a collision.
Photo:
Supplied / Open Justice / Margareta Dovgal
Dovgal told NZME from her home in Canada that Poon was an example of how to be a responsible car enthusiast.
The coroner's report said Poon had been driving since she was 16, had a collection of 15 vehicles and held the Canadian equivalent of a heavy truck licence.
"She was a responsible motorist. She was a car collector," Dovgal said.
"She loved the experience of driving, the culture and the community around it, and she was an example of knowing how to be passionate about that hobby in a very responsible, very safe way," she said.
"A beautiful woman lost her life, and she's missed, and she was really, really loved by many people, and she would have gone on to do wonderful things."
Dovgal was injured in the collision and said she had experienced flashbacks and post-traumatic stress since.
"It's only recently that I've stopped having panic attacks when I'm in a car," she said.
* This story was first published on
The NZ Herald
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Body found in search for diver missing from Lowry Bay in Wellington
A search is underway for a diving missing in Lowry Bay. File picture. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Lower Hutt police say they have found the body of a diver reported missing in Lowry Bay. Police were called at 11 o'clock this morning after the diver failed to surface when expected. The Police National Dive Squad searched the area and found the body at about 5pm. They are providing support to the next of kin. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority cancels licences for guards accused of turning up to police events
By Jeremy Wilkinson, Open Justice reporter of The authority said Brent and Alison Shaw should have paid for the right security licence before they paid to have signwriting on their car. Photo: House and Farm Security / Facebook A security guard drew the ire of police for allegedly showing up to events and questioning witnesses, sometimes before the real cops turned up. Brent Shaw also painted a Toyota Wish with orange and blue patterns and lights similar to a police vehicle, and reportedly wore a uniform similar to actual police uniforms. Police became concerned that Shaw and an employee of his security business, House and Farm Security Service, were listening to police communications with a scanner and listed occasions where they would arrive at incidents in their security uniforms and signwritten vehicle, and collect information from people involved before police could arrive. The police radio frequency can be listened to in regional areas of New Zealand, but is encrypted within the main city centres. This prompted police to make a complaint to the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, which handles complaints about licensed security guards. Shaw and his wife Alison both had Certificates of Approval to work as employed security guards but didn't have a licence to run their own business because they couldn't afford the annual fees. Despite this, Shaw and an employee who didn't hold any kind of security licence would drive around New Plymouth in their signwritten vehicle for their unlicensed security business, House and Farm Security Service. The business advertised extensively through flyers, social media and business cards but only generated $320 worth of income in that period. According to a ruling by the authority released this week, the Shaws were found to have been running their business without a licence, and to have hired an employee to work as a security guard without a certificate of approval. "The fact the business was not successful and earned very little money does mean House and Farm Security Service does not fit within the definition of a crowd controller or property guard …" authority head Trish McConnell said. "Before spending money on their vehicle, uniforms, flyers and advertising Mr and Mrs Shaw should have applied for a security licence." Part of the Shaws' argument in response to the complaint from police was that they hadn't hired an employee because they didn't get any regular work, but had him work a one-off security gig at a local festival. McConnell said this was a breach of the licensing rules and in addition, they had allowed that worker to wear a uniform for several months and hold himself out as a legitimate security worker. It's the second time Shaw has fallen foul of the authority after receiving a warning in 2017 for operating a similar business without a licence. McConnell described the Shaws' conduct as "intentional and ongoing" and despite being warned about needing a licence, they didn't get one. McConnell cancelled both Brent and Alison Shaw's personal security licences and fined them $800, which was the cost of the annual licence for their business that they didn't pay when they set it up. Brian Shaw told NZME he denied having a scanner capable of listening to police communications, and turning up at incidents before actual police to talk to witnesses. Shaw claimed instead that on one occasion he had witnessed a car accident and taken down the details of a driver who had left the scene, which he passed on to police. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
SPCA staff facing abuse
The SPCA isn't just dealing with animal abuse its staff are increasingly in the firing line; facing verbal and physical threats. There has been 70 incidents reported so far this year, but the animal welfare protection agency believes the numbers are much higher with some staff just putting up with daily abuse. In one case a worker in Hawke's Bay had a cat thrown at them. SPCA general manager for animal services Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
