Donaldson was found to have had a shortage of sleep over the four-day festival before making a \u201cflawed decision\u201d to drive home on what Judge John Bergseng described as some of the country\u2019s \u201cworst\u201d roads.<\/p>\n
Richards was asleep in the back seat when the car crashed. Donaldson and a front-seat passenger suffered minor injuries.<\/p>\n
Donaldson had no drugs or alcohol in her system. She shared the drive home with the front-seat passenger, who drove from Gisborne to \u014cp\u014dtiki, before Donaldson took over.<\/p>\n
Coroner Louella Dunn said in her decision, released this week, that Donaldson\u2019s lack of responses just before the crash had \u201call the hallmarks\u201d of someone who was fatigued.<\/p>\n
Dunn said Judge Bergseng found Donaldson had between 22 and a half hours and 25 hours of sleep during the four-night festival. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis may well be normal at a four-day music festival for younger people, however the alarming factor is that the majority of the festival attendees leave the festival either driving or being driven.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jade Richards, 18, died after the vehicle she was in rolled on SH30 on New Year’s Day. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Dunn said the coroner\u2019s role was to make comments or recommendations that, if made public, could reduce chances of further deaths.<\/p>\n
She said it was clear Donaldson\u2019s fatigued state caused her to veer off the road and into a rock wall. She said Richards\u2019 death was preventable. <\/p>\n
Dunn said attendees of music festivals were generally young and often drove long distances to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep is frequently deprived while at the festival and this means that special care should be taken when driving home. Event promoters and organisers should ensure that attendees are made aware of the dangers of driving after attending a music festival due to the risk that fatigued driving can have dangerous and, as here, fatal outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dunn said fatigue could not be tested but it was apparent attendees would be tired at the end of a four-day festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conditions of a music festival [do] not promote restful sleep. A decision to drive home after the festival finishes is made by young people who are no doubt keen to return home and may not fully appreciate the risk of driving while sleep deprived and fatigued.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said event organisers and promoters should ensure festival-goers were aware of the risk and other options were available. One suggestion was providing an opportunity to stay another day so attendees could rest and sleep before driving home.<\/p>\n
She said attendees also needed to plan ahead and ensure their nominated drivers were alert and attentive. <\/p>\n
\u201cI encourage music festival promoters and organisers to not only consider the effects of alcohol and drugs consumption on driving but to also alert festival attendees that driving while fatigued can have dangerous and potentially fatal consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it was hoped such messaging might encourage festival attendees to ensure their drivers were alert and vigilant travelling home.<\/p>\n
The Rhythm & Vines crowd. Photo \/ Gisborne Herald<\/p>\n
The Rotorua Daily Post asked Rhythm & Vines questions after the release of the coroner\u2019s decision, including whether it would make changes at future festivals.<\/p>\n
A Rhythm & Vines spokesperson said their thoughts remained with Richards\u2019 family and loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety is a top priority for Rhythm & Vines and we will consider the coroner\u2019s comments and recommendations as part of our standard and ongoing review of festival operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhythm & Vines announced last month that this year would be the last festival held at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne after 24 years.<\/p>\n
The 2027-28 event will be at an as-yet-undisclosed location.<\/p>\n
Rhythm & Vines Festival chief executive Kieran Spillane said last month that accessibility and Gisborne\u2019s remote location had been factors.<\/p>\n
The Rotorua Daily Post asked whether Richards\u2019 death had been a factor in the decision to move away from Gisborne.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the decision to relocate Rhythm & Vines was made as \u201cpart of the festival\u2019s long-term future planning\u201d.<\/p>\n
This week, singer Benee hinted in an interview with Ryan Bridge TODAY the festival might move to Hamilton<\/a>.<\/p>\n Asked whether she\u2019d heard anything about R&V\u2019s future plans, Benee responded: \u201cWhat have you heard?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Well, I guess I can say, because someone – I don\u2019t even remember who told me. Maybe Hamilton?\u201d<\/p>\n