MO-1996-204

On Saturday, 4 May 1996, at approximately 1530 hours, the driver of a passenger jet boat, whilst attempting a high-speed close encounter with a rock face at Highcliffs on the Kawarau River, glanced the boat off a rock outcrop and the boat collided, head on, with the cliff face. The driver and four passengers received minor to serious injuries in the collision. Causal factors included an error of judgement by the jet boat driver. The driver's last-minute attempt to abort the manoeuvre was a contributing factor to the collision. Safety issues discussed relate to improved protection for passengers.