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The subject of the manslaughter case is Allen Ball, who died in a cell at Hāwera Police Station on June 1, 2019. Following an autopsy, alcohol was detected in his blood at a level of 159 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. For comparison, the blood-alcohol limit for drivers 20 years and over is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Codeine was found in Ball’s blood system at an approximate level of 20mg per litre, and morphine was detected at a level of 0.2mg per litre. It was unlikely the morphine found was a result of morphine abuse but rather a metabolism of codeine, it was heard.
Coroner finds drink-driver to blame for double fatal crash in Hawke s Bay
10 Jan, 2021 11:12 PM
3 minutes to read
Wiremu Armitage and Kirsty Parsons died after their vehicles collided on May 10, 2019. Photo / Paul Taylor
Wiremu Armitage and Kirsty Parsons died after their vehicles collided on May 10, 2019. Photo / Paul Taylor
Wiremu Armitage was almost five times over the legal drinking limit when he crashed into Kirsty Parsons, killing her and himself.
Both Parsons, 26, and Armitage, 31, died after their vehicles collided on Taihape Rd, Omahu, on May 10, 2019.
A coroner s report found that Armitage was solely to blame for the double fatal, after his truck crossed the centre line and collided head-on with Parsons hatchback.