Queenstown builder killed when car rolled on remote track
by Matthew Littlewood · Otago Daily Times Online NewsThe death of a Queenstown man who crashed his car on conservation land served as a reminder to pay attention to road safety messages, a coroner says.
Thomas George Murdoch, a 29-year-old builder from Queenstown, died after his Toyota Landcruiser crashed on January 30, 2025 on Department of Conservation (Doc) land near Cowshed Hut, Fairlight, Southland.
Coroner A H Steel found in her decision "on papers’’ that the man’s death was ultimately caused by the fracture dislocation of the cervical spine.
During the pathologist’s assessment, alcohol at levels of 141mg/100mL in his blood and 232mg/100mL in his urine were found in his system: the legal blood alcohol limit for a New Zealand driver 20 years old or over is 50mg/100mL. Traces of THC consistent with marijuana were also found.
"Due to pre-existing government public safety campaigns highlighting the harm caused by driving while impaired by alcohol and/ or drugs and not wearing an appropriate vehicle restraint, I do not find that there are any useful recommendations that can be made," Coroner Steel said.
"Tragically, Mr Murdoch’s death illustrates the critical importance of these road safety messages and how they are just as applicable to off-road driving."
The coroner’s summary said Mr Murdoch left home on January 30, 2025 to go fly-fishing in the Mataura River.
"According to his mother, Maxine he had spent the last several months teaching himself fly-fishing and was passionate about it.
"He had left with his dog and was intending to be away for two nights."
About an hour later, Mr Murdoch called his mother to say he had found a good place to camp up for the next couple of nights.
Just before 10pm that day, police received communications from Mr Murdoch’s phone that a crash had taken place nearby. They could not locate Mr Murdoch that night.
The next day, the police, assisted by a local farmer, went to the area indicated by the GPS location given by the alert.
The GPS location was consistent with the area of the Cowshed Hut, a remote off-road Doc area about 10km up the Mataura River east from where it intersects with Cainard Rd, Fairlight.
Police found items belonging to Mr Murdoch including camping equipment, alcohol, and cannabis. Mr Murdoch’s body and vehicle were found not far from the scene.
The Serious Crash Unit investigator determined Mr Murdoch had attempted to ascend a rocky track with his 4WD vehicle operating in 2WD.
Mr Murdoch reversed down the track about four metres before driving uphill, spinning the rear wheels, up to the initial stopping position.
He then reversed the vehicle slightly further down the track. At this point the front passenger tyre rode up on the grass and earth edge of the track and he continued to drive forward with only the driver’s side rear tyre in contact with the ground. The vehicle rolled over backwards.
Mr Murdoch was not wearing a seatbelt, the SCU determined.
"The SCU investigator’s opined that the crash was caused by Mr Murdoch operating the vehicle on steep terrain in 2-wheel-drive while unrestrained and likely impaired by alcohol and drugs. I accept this advice,’’ Coroner Steel said.
Coroner Steel extended her condolences to Mr Murdoch’s family.