Inquest into the death of Road Death 59 of 2024
Demographics
60y, female
Date of death
2024-12-23
Finding date
2026-08-17
Cause of death
Multiple blunt force injuries sustained in motor vehicle crash (pedestrian)
AI-generated summary
A 60-year-old Aboriginal female pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle on the Stuart Highway in Darwin while attempting to access the Darwin Sobering Up Shelter. She was acutely intoxicated (BAC 0.18%) and positioned in the left lane of traffic in darkness. The crash occurred in an area without street lighting, with a 90 km/h speed limit. The coroner found the crash unavoidable for the driver but identified a 'perfect storm' of systemic factors that contributed to the death: proximity of the DSUS to the highway, inadequate lighting, high speed limit, lack of traffic control infrastructure, and the shelter's purpose of serving intoxicated persons. The deceased had complex health needs, a history of domestic violence, unstable housing, and transport disadvantage—risk factors for pedestrian crashes documented in the Menzies Report. The coroner recommended the NT Government implement pedestrian safety improvements within 12 months, including speed limit review, enhanced lighting, traffic-controlled crossing, and potentially relocating the DSUS to a safer location.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- acute alcohol intoxication (BAC 0.18%)
- pedestrian positioning in roadway
- inadequate street lighting at location
- high speed limit (90 km/h)
- lack of pedestrian crossing or traffic control
- proximity of Darwin Sobering Up Shelter to Stuart Highway
- darkness (evening time, 7:38 pm)
- insufficient distance for driver to brake or avoid after detecting pedestrian
Coroner's recommendations
- The Northern Territory Government should within 12 months take all steps necessary to improve pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the Darwin Sobering Up Shelter including on Tivendale Road, Wongabilla Street, the Stuart Highway, Thorak Road and bus stops in that location, with special attention to the intersections of Tivendale Road and Thorak Road with the Stuart Highway. Improvements should include: review of the speed limit in combination with improved lighting to ensure vehicles travelling at the speed limit have opportunity to see and avoid pedestrians; installation of an Intelligent Transport System; creation of a traffic light controlled intersection and pedestrian crossing; increasing the capacity of Night Patrol; and/or moving the DSUS to a location which is more suitable and safer for pedestrian access.
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