Key Takeaways
- Roger Sydney Samson, 19, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere, 23, in the Te Kuiti District Court.
- The trailer Samson was towing had excessive corrosion, seized brakes, and was not roadworthy, but he still attempted to drive it approximately 370km from Tauranga to New Plymouth.
- The trailer broke free from Samson’s vehicle, crossing the center line and crashing into Hana-Wetere’s car, killing her instantly.
- Samson had inspected the trailer and was aware of its poor condition but chose to tow it anyway, putting the public in danger.
- Hana-Wetere’s family described her as a caring and bubbly person who had everything going for her, with plans to join her partner in Australia.
Introduction to the Incident
A tragic incident occurred on July 11, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere. The incident involved a trailer that broke free from a South Taranaki man’s vehicle, crashing into Hana-Wetere’s car and killing her instantly. The trailer, which was being towed by 19-year-old Roger Sydney Samson, had excessive corrosion and seized brakes, making it not roadworthy. Despite this, Samson attempted to drive it approximately 370km from Tauranga to New Plymouth, putting the public in danger.
The Events Leading Up to the Incident
The events leading up to the incident began when Samson contacted a person selling a Haines Hunter fibreglass boat and metal trailer in Tauranga on June 23, via Facebook Marketplace. The boat was listed as a "project boat" due to the considerable amount of work required to get both the boat and trailer up to seaworthy and roadworthy standard. The trailer’s WOF had expired in July 2016, and it had been extensively affected by corrosion, with visible holes in its frame and large areas of discolouration. Despite this, Samson told the seller he was a "fabricator and machinist," which put him at ease about assessing the trailer’s condition.
The Purchase and Registration of the Trailer
Samson purchased the trailer and boat for $3000 and registered it as a "grey 2025 homebuilt New Zealand new TB trailer" at a VTNZ in Hāwera. This was done despite the trailer’s poor condition and lack of a warrant of fitness for nine years. Samson’s decision to register the trailer as new was a deliberate attempt to circumvent the law and avoid scrutiny. He then hitched the trailer to his Volkswagen and set off on the approximately 370km journey back to New Plymouth, taking an alternate route to avoid being stopped by police.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
As Samson traveled south of Te Kūiti on SH3, the trailer broke free from his vehicle, crossing the center line and crashing into Hana-Wetere’s car. The impact was fatal, with Hana-Wetere suffering fractures to her skull, jaw, ribs, humerus, femur, and elbow, along with lacerations to her liver, spleen, and kidneys. The police serious crash unit found numerous issues with the trailer, including excessive corrosion, seized brakes, and faulty brake callipers. The combined weight of the trailer and boat was 2380kg, far exceeding the safe towing limit of 750kg.
The Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Samson appeared in the Te Kūiti District Court, where he admitted to dangerous driving causing Hana-Wetere’s death. He was convicted and remanded on bail to reappear for sentencing in April. The court acknowledged the loss and sorrow felt by Hana-Wetere’s family and offered them the opportunity to write a victim impact statement and read it to Samson at his sentencing. Samson’s guilty plea was a significant step towards accountability, but it does little to alleviate the pain and suffering caused by his reckless actions.
The Victim and Her Family
Hana-Wetere’s family described her as a caring and bubbly person who had everything going for her. She was planning to join her partner in Australia and had started making plans for her future. Her brother, Te Huia Brown-Hana, said she was "larger than life" and always accepted everyone for who they were. The loss of Hana-Wetere has had a profound impact on her family, and they will never be the same. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions on the road.
