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Lessons Learned Through Tragedy
17 September 2007
The tragedy where a soldier was killed in a Unimog accident in Marlborough last year has given the Army lessons to learn, and we have addressed those, says Land Component Commander Brigadier Rhys Jones.
“On behalf of the New Zealand Army, I wish to again offer our condolences to the family of Private Meredith Simms, who died in this tragic accident, and our sympathies to Kahn Hogg who was seriously injured in the accident.”
Brigadier Jones agrees with the Blenheim Coroner that lessons have been learnt by the Army as a result of the accident near Weld Pass, Marlborough, on August 16, 2006.
The Coroner identified a “confluence of small factors”, which when combined caused this accident. The Army is responsible for addressing three of those factors, and accepts the Coroner’s recommendations on those matters.
The issues were:
Driver Experience
Private Hogg held a Class 2 Licence and had in excess of 170 hours driving experience in a Unimog prior to the accident. That experience had been gained in driving laden and unladen vehicles during both on and off road activities.
Although Private Hogg graduated from the Army’s driver training programme 11 months prior to the crash, and was not on a specific driver training exercise, the Coroner suggested the Army Driver Training Programme be reviewed.
A review of the programme was done in 2005, and as a result significant changes were made to Army driver training, including; increased ratio of driver to instructor for phases of the training course, increased supervision hours for trainee drivers and the introduction of an Army Provisional Driving Permit Scheme.
The weighing of loads
All dummy loads within the Army are now weighed and recorded so the driver knows exactly what they are carrying at any time.
Vehicle Maintenance
A Certificate of Fitness had been issued to this vehicle by a civilian establishment in June 2006.
The fact the brake valve had seized was not a contributing factor to this crash. If the brake valve does seize it defaults to an automatic safe setting in line with Mercedes Benz specifications.
As a result of the accident an Army-wide audit of all Unimogs was conducted to check the condition of the brake valves.
The minimum braking capacity as set out in the Army maintenance schedule is now 60%, above the 50% legal minimum identified by the coroner.
The Army has purchased Roller Brake Tester equipment for each of its camps so it can conduct brake tests on all its vehicles prior to an exercise.
The Coroner stated that the responsibility of the New Zealand Army is to have “the best training reasonably possible and that the equipment to be used by Army personnel is the best reasonably available.”
Brigadier Jones said he could assure the Coroner and the wider public that the Army seeks to do this and does do this. “This tragic accident has given us lessons to learn, and we have addressed those. However the imperative remains, as noted by the Coroner, that the Army must train its soldiers to face the conditions they will face when overseas. Therefore it must provide robust, realistic and challenging training within safety margins to prepare its drivers to operate in demanding conditions.”
In his report the Coroner commended the actions of the military personnel and civilians at the scene of the accident. Private Nigel Dobier has been awarded the Chief of Army’s Commendation for his courage and initiative on the day of the accident.
“Private Dobier and other members of his section did everything possible to help Privates Simms and Hogg. I also thank those members of the public who came to the aid of our soldiers on that day as well,” said Brigadier Jones.
Driver safety campaign
Private Simms’ parents, Dave and Tima, paid tribute to their son at media conference at Defence House on September 7.
The couple shared their feelings regarding the loss of their only child and acknowledged the support of the New Zealand Army since the accident.
Mr Simms said Meredith was a very fine young man.
“A talented marksman, musician, film maker, outdoorsman, hunter, soldier and friend. He was a kind, generous and determined person. His untimely death affects many good people. His Army colleagues, his family from all over the world, his school mates and neighbours in the Akatarawa Valley – even people we’ve never met before but who are kind enough to support Tima and I in our desolate grief.
“There is no blame to apportion. He would not want that. He loved the Army with a tremendous passion – it has been his dream since he was five. There were a cocktail of factors that – when combined together – contributed to the sad, irretrievable and fatal events at 2.30pm in the afternoon of 16th August last year. They are all now known.
“And they are all being dealt with – as we move on. We’d like to acknowledge and give our heartfelt thanks to all members of the New Zealand Army and Police, who have helped us in our grief. They too have been torn apart by Meredith’s death and Kahn’s injuries. They share our pain. They understand the lifelong emotional impacts of a father’s and a mother’s grief.
“We are so proud to have nurtured a man that so many loved.”
This page was last reviewed on 19 October 2007 and is current.
