Barkley, Steven William - Non-inquest findings
Deceased
Steven William Barkley
Demographics
45y, male
Date of death
2015-04-13
Finding date
2015-12-21
Cause of death
Multiple injuries due to motor vehicle collision (pedestrian)
AI-generated summary
A 45-year-old man died after being struck by a motor vehicle while walking intoxicated in the middle of a remote, unlit road at night. Blood alcohol concentration was 0.288%. The driver could not see him until impact due to poor visibility, darkness, unexpected pedestrian position, and headlight glare from an oncoming vehicle. The coroner identified this as part of a broader pattern of intoxicated pedestrian deaths on remote roads in the Northern Coroners Region. The death was deemed accidental. Key lessons include maintaining vigilance for pedestrians in poorly lit areas at night, particularly on rural and remote roads, and ensuring intoxicated individuals receive assistance getting home safely rather than walking on roadways.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Intoxication (blood alcohol concentration 0.288%)
- Pedestrian in middle of road at night
- Remote location with no street lighting
- Poor visibility
- Headlight glare from oncoming vehicle affecting driver visibility
- Unexpected pedestrian position in location where driver would not expect to find a pedestrian
- Pedestrian wearing dark clothing (only blue jeans, no shirt)
Coroner's recommendations
- Safety message: Stay with and help intoxicated friends get home safely
- Safety message: Intoxicated pedestrians who must walk home should stay clear of the road when traffic approaches and passes
- Safety message: Intoxicated pedestrians needing rest should sit down well clear of the road
- Safety message: Drivers should maintain good lookout for pedestrians at night, particularly through poorly lit sections of towns, urban corridors, and between closely situated towns
Full text
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