Drunk man had no 'Wrong Way' warning
A "Wrong Way" sign has been erected at a Wellington intersection after a drunk man drove onto a motorway exit ramp with fatal consequences.
Michael McKinnon, 39, was "heavily intoxicated" when his van collided with a car on the motorway southbound near Churton Park in March 2012, killing himself and the driver of the other vehicle.
In findings published on Monday, Coroner Ian Smith listed the litany of issues surrounding the crash, including the van driver's drunken state and unwarranted vehicle, and fact he was not licensed to drive a manual transmission vehicle.
The man he drove into, Porirua resident Nasona Vakai, was himself a disqualified driver in an unwarranted car.
Despite the number of faults at play, Mr Smith said Mr McKinnon's blood alcohol level of 221 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood - almost three times the legal limit - was probably the biggest contributor to the crash. Speed was not a factor.
But he was also concerned that the Churton Park southbound off ramp had no signage warning drivers they were heading the wrong way onto the motorway.
The Land Transport Agency has since erected "No Entry" and "Wrong Way" signs at the intersection but the coroner was unsatisfied with the placement, and requested the warnings be moved "into the line of sight of approaching drivers".
