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2008 February Slush
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Man died after driving down boat ra
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Man died after driving down boat ra

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Man died after driving down boat ramp drunk New 9:17AM Wednesday February 13, 2008

A Taranaki man who drowned after driving down the boat ramp at Waitara's Marine Park last year was "severely alcohol impaired", Coroner Timothy Scott has found.

Michael Patu was more than two times over the legal driving limit when he "free wheeled" his ute and trailer, vehicle first, down the ramp and into the river on September 9, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Police believe Mr Patu died when an attempt to dump grass clippings from his lawn mowing business went wrong.

Mr Scott said the decision to go down the ramp vehicle first defied all logic "and I conclude it was a result of his alcohol impairment".

Mr Patu had let his unwarranted utility "free run" in neutral down the ramp, controlling the speed with the foot brake that did not have a normal rubber cover.

"The probability is that his foot slipped off the brake and alcohol caused or contributed to that happening."

The vehicle hit rocks on the river bed and water flooded the cab.

- NZPA

Submitted on 02/12/2008

Submitted by: tim
Reference: New Zealand Herald

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
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>> Moderator Scores <<

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Interesting way to dispose of grass clippings. Now he is under the sod himself. Thanks, tim


Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I've seen plenty of people get into trouble backing down a slipper ramp with a heavy boat in tow, but I've NEVER seen a car go down a ramp head first. Thanks for such a unique story, Tim!


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