The deaths of three Samoan seasonal workers in a 2024 motorway crash could likely have been prevented, a New Zealand coroner said, citing outdated median barriers that failed to stop a fully laden truck from crossing into oncoming traffic.

Coroner Alison Mills, in a report released this week, found the wire barriers on State Highway 1 at Ramarama were “not of a sufficient safety rating” to stop the truck, which suffered a tyre blowout and entered the northbound lanes. Mills said modern, high-performance barriers would have “highly likely” prevented the crash.

The victims, Uili Faaofo, 45; Taavao Tolala Kelemete, 32; and Leauga Jerry Leauga, 37, were returning from seasonal work in New Zealand and preparing to travel home to Samoa. A fourth passenger, Leauga’s younger brother, survived but sustained permanent brain injuries.

Faaofo left home at 4 a.m. to pick up his nephews and other workers in Ōpōtiki. The group was described as happy and wearing seatbelts, looking forward to family visits before their departure. At 1:40 p.m., a southbound 2015 DAF CF truck owned by TDM Construction Ltd suffered a right-front steering tyre blowout after passing under the Ramarama interchange. The truck struck a Toyota Mark X, pushed it into the median, then ploughed through both central wire barriers into the northbound lanes. It hit a BMW before colliding with the van carrying the Samoan workers, killing Faaofo, Kelemete, and Leauga at the scene. The Toyota's driver and passenger suffered minor to moderate injuries.

A serious crash unit investigation concluded the two wire median barriers on the 7.9-meter-wide grass berm were inadequate to redirect a heavy truck. Investigators found “stone drilling” on the left steer tyre likely caused the right-side blowout. The truck was overloaded by 3170kg but remained within legal limits. The driver, Mr Lauder, had not complied with work-time and logbook rules, receiving two $450 fines, while TDM Construction Ltd was fined $625 for axle weight breaches.

Mills urged Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to urgently replace all legacy median barriers on the state highway network. NZTA said 5,533 meters of outdated barriers remain, citing funding constraints for replacement delays. Mills said that waiting to replace barriers only when they fail is “not sufficient, given the devastating consequences when they fail.”

The coroner also recommended that trucking and tyre service industries review tyre maintenance schedules, ensure accurate records of mileage, repairs, rotations, and alignments, and give extra attention to super single steer tyres, which are more sensitive to wear.

Mills extended condolences to the families of the three men, acknowledging the “devastating impact” the deaths had on communities in both New Zealand and Samoa.