The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has raised the priority of a West Coast bridge for upgrades after a Korean couple crashed into the side of it and died in 2014.
Kim Chil Young and Sung Young Mo, both 60, had been in New Zealand for two days before their car plunged into the Whanganui River, north of Harihari, on the West Coast on December 30, 2014.
The coroner's report released today says the driver, Mr Young, lost control of the vehicle and crashed through the wooden side of Whanganui River Bridge around 4:30pm.
The rental car disappeared into the flooded river before being identified and recovered two days later. The coroner found the couple died as a result of the impact of the crash and drowning.
NZTA says guardrails on bridges are prioritised on a risk-based approach of funding allowance.
"This is one of several bridges that would benefit from having improved guardrails installed and is identified in our prioritisation process for future work," NZTA says.
There had been only one crash on the bridge prior to this incident in the past five years.
"With good visibility to the structure in both directions, there was no reason to suggest that this bridge in particular required urgent attention."
The NZTA says although the crash has raised the priority of the bridge, there are currently other higher priority sites on the West Coast that will require treatment ahead of this site.
The bridge had not been scheduled for treatment within the current three year funding period.
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