Tachyon Hutt lived on a boat moored near Picton. He had plans to restore it, before his death in July. <\/p>\n
Blood screening also showed \u201csignificantly elevated\u201d levels of cannabis in his system, Coroner<\/a> Heather McKenzie said in her inquest findings released today.<\/p>\n She said Hutt\u2019s family spoke of the significant stressors and trauma in his life and alleged that he was being bullied which caused him to drive as he did. <\/p>\n Coroner McKenzie was unable to make such a finding but acknowledged the family\u2019s correspondence which gave her a deeper insight into Hutt\u2019s background.<\/p>\n Loved the sea<\/p>\n Hutt made headlines in mid-2020<\/a> after he was rescued during a nearly successful attempt to cross Cook Strait in a small motorised dinghy.<\/p>\n The boat broke down off the Mana Coast, just short of Hutt\u2019s intended landing point.<\/p>\n He tried to row ashore but after about an hour he became tired and called for a tow.<\/p>\n Hutt told NZME in an interview last year he loved the sea, having grown up around boats in the Marlborough Sounds<\/a> after his family moved there from Nelson, where he was born.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved sailing, you know. It\u2019s where I feel at peace.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that if I was able to look that far back in our family\u2019s ancestry, I reckon we must be related to Vikings or something.\u201d<\/p>\n Fatal crash<\/p>\n On the evening of July 19, Hutt was driving on State Highway 6, Okaramio in Marlborough, on his way to Nelson<\/a>.<\/p>\n That day he had been in regular contact with a friend who told him she was going to Nelson with friends for the night. <\/p>\n Hutt said he wanted to come but she said he could not as he had been drinking and it was not safe. <\/p>\n She urged Hutt to return to his boat. <\/p>\n \u201cI have seen the messages and the friend clearly told Mr Hutt multiple times that it was not safe for him to drive as he had been drinking. Mr Hutt persisted in wanting to see her,\u201d Coroner McKenzie said.<\/p>\n Hutt set off in any event, apparently leaving his boat in a hurry, but it was unknown why, the coroner said.<\/p>\n CCTV footage showed him getting petrol in Picton about 5.20pm. <\/p>\n The attendant described Hutt as \u201cagitated and talkative\u201d and \u201cjumping around\u201d.<\/p>\n As he left, he told the attendant, who he knew, \u201cI\u2019m going to leave my tyres all over the road\u201d and did a small burnout as he left.<\/p>\n Others had reported Hutt\u2019s driving to police that day. They said he was \u201cflying\u201d around town, slamming on brakes and screaming around corners, speeding on the open road, tooting his horn, and passing. <\/p>\n It was \u201cincredibly lucky\u201d he didn\u2019t hit anyone, witnesses told police.<\/p>\n About 15km south of Havelock township Hutt lost control of his vehicle on a right-hand bend that police said would be managed \u201ccomfortably\u201d at the open road speed limit of 100km\/h.<\/p>\n Hutt crossed the centreline while travelling between 139km\/h to 154km\/h and smashed into a power pole.<\/p>\n Other motorists found Hutt dead in his vehicle. Coroner McKenzie said based on a pathologist\u2019s report, he died from blunt force trauma to his head and chest.<\/p>\n Crash a combination of factors<\/p>\n She said the crash was likely caused by a combination of him being \u201csignificantly under the influence of alcohol and cannabis<\/a>\u201d, as well as excess speed.<\/p>\n The Police Serious Crash Unit<\/a> found no mechanical faults with Hutt\u2019s vehicle. The road was dry and clear of anything that might have contributed to the crash.<\/p>\n Hutt was on a restricted driver\u2019s licence but was familiar with the vehicle.<\/p>\n He had sent a text message minutes before the crash.<\/p>\n Police said while cellphone distraction could not be proven, it could \u201ccertainly account\u201d for why he crossed the centreline. <\/p>\n Coroner McKenzie could not safely make any finding about whether Hutt was distracted by cellphone use.<\/p>\n In considering whether any recommendations were appropriate, she was mindful of widespread public road safety<\/a> campaigns related to the dangers of speed and drink driving. <\/p>\n \u201cIn this setting, I do not make any further recommendations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\nThe dinghy Tachyon Hutt travelled across Cook Strait in. Photo \/ NZ Police<\/p>\n