Tynan, Kristina Ann
Deceased
Kristina Ann Tynan
Demographics
21y, female
Date of death
2006-05-22
Finding date
2008-11-27
Cause of death
Immersion (drowning) following a car crash
AI-generated summary
Kristina Tynan, 21, died from drowning following a car crash into a lagoon during a brief police pursuit in Maryborough, Queensland. The pursuit lasted approximately 7 seconds after the driver failed to stop at police signals and proceeded through a stop sign. Senior Constable Behne immediately terminated the pursuit when the vehicle dangerously ran through a second major intersection stop sign, demonstrating appropriate risk assessment. The driver then lost control at excessive speed (estimated 85-200 km/h) at a T-intersection he failed to see despite a reflective sign. The coroner found the pursuing officers acted in full compliance with QPS policy, with exemplary conduct by the senior officer. Investigation had minor procedural lapses (pursuing officers not breath-tested, one officer inappropriately re-interviewing the driver), but these did not compromise the integrity of investigations. The coroner commended the thoroughness of the investigation and deferred recommendations pending outcomes of six other concurrent police pursuit death inquests.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Driver operating vehicle without valid driving licence despite recent disqualification conviction
- High-speed driving in response to police pursuit activation
- Driver's failure to observe road end sign at T-intersection
- Excessive speed estimated at 85-200 km/h at point of crash
- Driver's inability or failure to brake adequately before sharp left turn
Coroner's recommendations
- Deferred pending outcomes of six other concurrent police pursuit death inquests to evaluate cumulative impact before recommending changes to QPS pursuit policy
- Implementation of mandatory breath testing for pursuing officers following pursuits (noted as subsequently amended in police policy)
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