Coroner's Finding: Jordan Bridge
Deceased
Jordan Bridge
Demographics
13y, female
Date of death
2009-12-28
Finding date
2011-11-17
Cause of death
Burning sustained in a motor vehicle collision
AI-generated summary
On 28 December 2009, a fuel tanker carrying 38,000 litres of flammable liquid rolled over on the Princes Highway at East Lynne, NSW, colliding with three vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Four people died including children aged 11 and 13. The collision was caused by the tanker traveling at approximately 100 km/h, the posted speed limit but exceeding the 85 km/h advisory speed for a sharp left curve. The tanker rolled, spilled fuel which ignited, causing catastrophic fires and multiple fatalities at the scene. The coroner found no defects with the vehicle or driver qualifications; the sole cause was excessive speed for the curve radius. Key recommendations included reviewing speed limits and signage for heavy vehicles on this highway section, making electronic stability control systems mandatory on dangerous goods vehicles, including rollover risk training in dangerous goods driver licensing, and developing industry training packages on heavy vehicle rollover prevention.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Tanker traveling at 100 km/h exceeding the 85 km/h advisory speed limit for the left curve
- Lack of electronic stability control systems on the tanker
- Absence of mandatory driver training on rollover risks for dangerous goods vehicles
- Regulatory gaps in speed enforcement for heavy vehicles negotiating curves
Coroner's recommendations
- Review signage and speed limits for heavy vehicles on the Princes Highway between Termeil and Batemans Bay, including investigation of making advisory speed limits mandatory for heavy vehicles
- Amendment to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code to make electronic stability control systems mandatory on all vehicles transporting dangerous goods
- Amendment to the NSW Dangerous Goods (Road & Rail Transport) Regulation 2009 to make electronic stability control systems mandatory on all vehicles transporting dangerous goods
- Include training on causes and prevention of rollover incidents in the certification process for persons authorised to transport dangerous goods
- Development of training and education package for trucking industry members incorporating facts and findings from this inquest and addressing causes and prevention of heavy vehicle rollovers
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