Roger Sydney Samson has been sentenced to prison for dangerous driving causing the death of 23-year-old Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere. The fatal incident occurred on State Highway 3 near New Plymouth in November 2024 when the corroded trailer towing Samson's boat detached from his vehicle and collided with Hana-Wetere's oncoming car.
Appearing via audio-visual link from Whanganui Prison, Samson was sentenced by Judge Philip Crayton in the New Plymouth District Court. The court heard that the trailer's condition, with significant corrosion in its drawbar, was a key factor in the detachment. Hana-Wetere's young son was present in the vehicle with her at the time of the collision but survived.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that highlighted the dangers of improperly maintained vehicle trailers. Police investigations confirmed the trailer's failure was directly linked to its poor state of repair.
