Parents of Teen Killed In School Camp Road Crash Warn of Driver Fatigue

The parents of a Sunshine Coast student who died in a road crash in New Zealand while on a school adventure camp have warned drivers not to ignore the symptoms of fatigue, as they prepare to sue the Noosa school.

Gabriel Runge was 16 years old when the van he was travelling in was collided with a Fonterra milk tanker after it drifted across the centre line on State Highway 5, near Reporoa, in November, 2014.

Teacher Andre Vogel, 36, was driving the vehicle and was also killed in the crash.

He was later found during a New Zealand inquest to have fallen asleep at the wheel after he had completed back-to-back camps and failed to act on symptoms of fatigue.

Coroner Wallace Bain heard most the group, including the other teacher sitting in the front, were asleep at the time of impact. Six students and the other teacher were injured.

The group had walked the Tongariro Crossing and were travelling to Rotorua when the crash occurred. They were due to return to Australia the following day.

Gabriel’s parents, Derrick Runge and Pamela Shorland-Runge, told The Sunday Mail their move to seek compensation for psychological injury from the school was not motivated by money, but they hoped the lawsuit would shine a light on the need for greater compliance with health and safety policies relating to outdoor education.

They also want to use their family’s tragedy to spread a broader message to the community about the “sudden killer” that is driver fatigue and advise motorists to take regular breaks.

It is a timely message with the school holidays upon us.

The Runges told The Sunday Mail the heart-wrenching experience had left them “challenged to resume our lives” and the findings of the inquest had not provided them with closure.

“We did not expect that by encouraging Gabriel to participate in a school excursion we would one week later have to go to New Zealand to bring his body back in a casket,” Mr. Runge said.

“We seek a just and fair outcome that honours the loss of Gabriel’s life, improved protection for all students participating in outdoor education programs, accountability of those responsible for Gabriel’s welfare and financial compensation reflective of the value of Gabriel’s life.”

Noosa Pengari Steiner School principal Michael Layden said the school had since adopted a policy of using commercial buses, or dedicated drivers, to transport outdoor education groups.

Driver fatigue causes as much as 20% of Australian road accidents.

Fatigue is easy to detect, with symptoms including:

• yawning
• sore or heavy eyes
• slower reaction times
• finding you’re daydreaming and not concentrating on your driving
• driving speed creeps up or down
• impatience
• impaired driving performance such as poor gear changes
• stiffness and cramps
• loss of motivation

The cure is simple, change drivers or pull over in a safe place and have a sleep.

Please stay safe these holidays.