Call for faster action on youth driving

An emergency doctor is calling on the Government to fast-track tougher licensing restrictions for young drivers after a teenager wagging school was killed when her mate's car crashed.

Five other teenagers aged 15 to 19 were injured, one seriously, in yesterday's accident near Paraparaumu.

Tiana Law, 16, died instantly when she was flung from a Toyota Hilux Surf four-wheel-drive after the driver lost control on a gravel road and rolled before hitting a lamppost.

The accident happened about 9.15am on Maungakotukutuku Rd.

Miss Law's body was found several metres from the upturned vehicle.

Former Paraparaumu College pupil Ben Clifton, 19, was found lying on his back nearby with serious head and facial injuries and suspected spinal injuries. It is believed he crawled from the wreckage.

He was flown by Westpac rescue helicopter to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition.

Wellington Free Ambulance team manager operations James McMeekin said when paramedics arrived the other four passengers were "fairly bewildered and stunned". They were all taken to Wellington Hospital with minor injuries and suspected fractures.

Paraparaumu College sent a notice home with pupils naming the other occupants of the car as Kaylin Signal, Lucas Craig and Chris Webber – all pupils at the school – and former pupil Hona Spratt, 16, who was driving the car. Those four were discharged from hospital yesterday and Mr Clifton was admitted for the night in stable condition.

Kapiti Medical Emergency Services director Dr Chris Lane, who attended the accident, said the tragedy highlighted the need for young, inexperienced drivers to undergo practical tuition before being licensed.

"Speed seems to be the only explanation. You would only have to be doing 50 to 60kmh on the slippery gravel to lose control. Those vehicles are really top heavy and roll easily, especially with lots of people in them," Dr Lane said. "It looked like he lost control, skidded and over-corrected."

Dr Lane said proper driver training was imperative. "They should go with a good instructor to a muddy track and go hell for leather, learn skid control, how to handle a car during severe braking, and how to get a vehicle back in line – like what happened today."

Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced last week a raft of measures to tackle teen drivers including raising the driving age to 16, introducing tougher restricted licence testing, a zero drink-drive limit for drivers under 20, and investigating vehicle power restrictions.

The changes could come into force before Christmas.

Paraparaumu College principal Richard Campbell said Miss Law, a year-12 pupil, had just turned 16.

"She was a very nice pleasant young lady, well liked by a group of close friends."

The school had started making inquiries when the four pupils failed to turn up yesterday morning. "They had either planned or decided on the spur of the moment to go off somewhere else."

The vehicle was heading up the Maungakotukutuku Valley towards a popular four-wheel-drive track.

Grief counsellors were at the college, Mr Campbell said. "They were obviously all taking time off, that is not wise, it was a dreadful accident – people being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

- © Fairfax NZ News