Boon, Jennifer Ann
Deceased
Jennifer Ann Boon
Demographics
45y, female
Date of death
2009-07-12
Finding date
2012-10-10
Cause of death
Multiple significant crush injuries to the head caused by non-intentional collision between bus and deceased as a pedestrian
AI-generated summary
Jennifer Boon, 45, died when struck by a reversing bus while alighting as a passenger near her home. The driver, Ms Blessington, was reversing to exit a service road with obstructed visibility due to fogged windows and darkness. The coroner found no fault in the driver's manner of driving. The deceased's blood alcohol level (0.102-0.117 mg/100ml) likely impaired her judgment; evidence suggests she may have been distracted by her mobile phone when struck. The coroner identified that completing all reversing manoeuvres before allowing passengers to alight would have prevented this death. Key preventive measures recommended include mandatory completion of reversing before passenger alighting, installation of reversing cameras on buses, and public education campaigns about pedestrian safety around large vehicles.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Poor visibility due to fogged bus windows
- Darkness and lack of street lighting
- Deceased's alcohol impairment (blood alcohol 0.102-0.117 mg/100ml)
- Possible distraction from mobile phone use
- Passenger alighted before reversing manoeuvre completed
- Limited rear visibility despite functioning reversing lights and beeper
Coroner's recommendations
- Department of Transport and Main Roads ensure through Operator Accreditation that all drivers complete necessary reversing before allowing passengers to alight, and that drivers ensure unrestricted or adequate visibility to the rear through use of a person assisting, visual inspection, camera or other appropriate means
- All companies operating in Queensland give serious consideration to installation of reversing cameras on all passenger vehicles capable of being fitted with such equipment, with Department of Transport and Main Roads to communicate this as a recommendation to all Accredited Operators
- Department of Transport and Main Roads give consideration to a public education campaign designed to educate the public on dangers of larger passenger vehicles, safe and prudent conduct in close proximity to such vehicles (including risks of mobile phone distraction), and visibility issues affecting both drivers and passengers
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