http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2458903/Father-wanted-to-die-in-crash
Father wanted to die in crash
By AARON LEAMAN - Waikato Times
Last updated 05:00 30/05/2009
Hamilton's coroner says a man who died with two of his children in a head-on smash had set out to commit homicide.
He had threatened to kill himself behind the wheel and when he did die, so did two of his three children.
Hamilton Coroner Gordon Matenga yesterday said the crash which claimed three lives was the deranged act of a desperate man who set about to take his own life and commit culpable homicide.
"It is the only scenario that fits the evidence," he said.
The crash was at Ngahinapouri earlier this year. Mr Matenga has reserved his decision on the case and yesterday suppressed the names of those involved.
Earlier the mother of two young children killed in the head-on crash said her estranged husband repeatedly threatened to kill himself behind the wheel.
Their third child suffered serious multiple injuries, requiring extensive hospital treatment. The children's mother was not in the car.
At yesterday's inquest, Mr Matenga said he was satisfied the man had deliberately swerved into the path of an oncoming truck, killing himself and two of his children.
The driver of the north-bound truck and his 10-year-old passenger were unhurt.
In evidence, the man's estranged wife told the court her husband had found their separation difficult and repeatedly threatened to kill himself.
She ended their relationship because of concerns over his chronic cannabis use.
An autopsy report showed cannabis in the man's system.
The woman said that throughout their relationship her husband blackmailed her with threats of taking his life, saying "he couldn't wait for the day".
Her husband was allegedly unhappy with the thought of her finding someone else or their children having a stepfather.
Only days before the crash he allegedly told his wife: "You won't know what hit you.
"I'm going to drive as fast as I can into a truck."
She told Mr Matenga her husband told a workmate of his plan to drive into a truck and had farewelled colleagues prior to Christmas in a "strange" manner.
"He did exactly what he said he was going to do," she said.
"The night before I pick up my children he does what he said he was going to do."
The truck driver, who also has name suppression, reported seeing the south-bound vehicle approaching through a slight left hand bend before it suddenly veered in front of him.
He said it appeared the driver had swerved to miss something, but there was nothing on the road.
"It wasn't until he was right in front of me that he swerved hard right. It wasn't a slow drift."
The man said he did not have time to brake.
Mr Matenga said the truck driver had shown no fault and was the unwilling participant "in what can only be described as a deranged act".
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