Signs advising less speed are being put on a Hawke's Bay country road where a man crashed a stolen car and died.
A sign on the stretch of road on State Highway 2. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
A coroner's report has found that Glennard Hirini Gotty drove too fast around a bend on White Road, north of Waipawa in May last year.
Mr Gotty took the car, which was being sold, for a test drive with its owner, Stuart Blackbourn.
He then demanded Mr Blackbourn get out, and sped off on State Highway Two towards Hastings.
The coroner, Tim Scott, said he could not determine why Mr Gotty had crashed the car.
"There is no evidence that he was affected by alcohol," he said.
"There is no evidence that his visibility of the road and the approaching bend was compromised."
"He lived locally and is thought to have been familiar with the area where the crash occurred."
Mr Scott said White Road is known to be straight for at least two kilometres before the bend where Mr Gotty left the road.
He supported the police's recommendation that 25 km speed signs should be put up on both approaches to the corner.
The Central Hawke's Bay District Council has confirmed the signs will be installed.
