Taupō woman dies after being discharged from hospital

Monday, 1 October 2018

A Taupō woman who was hit by a vehicle on  a pedestrian crossing has died, just hours after being released from hospital.

On September 18, at about 6:30pm, Meredith Vowels, 38, was struck by a vehicle outside the Paetiki Shopping Centre on Rifle Range Road in Taupō.

She was discharged from Rotorua Hospital on September 21, but died a few hours later. 

Vowels' sister Bayley Marie posted a statement on Facebook to clear up speculation around the accident. She said Vowels received a fractured pelvis and extensive bruising in the accident. She was in Rotorua Hospital for a few days before being discharged on the Friday afternoon.

'A few hours later while at the home of her good friend, Meredith suffered a massive acute pulmonary embolism which was caused by deep vein thrombosis which in turn was a result of her injuries combined with being immobile for several days,' Marie said.

Sue Wilkie, communications officer for Lakes District Health Board, said whenever someone dies unexpectedly, within 30 days of hospital discharge, the care received was reviewed.

'Lakes DHB staff are currently looking at the case file and will follow up with discussion with clinicians.'

Police have spoken to the driver of the vehicle and are investigating the cause of the crash.

Anyone with information can contact Senior Constable Peter Stringfellow at Taupō Police on (07) 378 6060.