Coroner's Finding: Cooper, David Wade Archer
Deceased
David Wade Archer Cooper
Demographics
21y, male
Date of death
2015-09-26
Finding date
2016-12-19
Cause of death
chest injuries sustained in motorcycle crash; lacerated aorta and haemorrhage into left pleural cavity
AI-generated summary
David Wade Archer Cooper, a 21-year-old, died from chest injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on the East Derwent Highway near Geilston Bay on 26 September 2015. He was riding a 250cc motorcycle at approximately 80km/h when struck by a Land Rover turning right from Pipers Road. The driver failed to maintain proper lookout despite having 7.5-9 seconds visibility of the approaching motorcycle. Following the crash, the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate resuscitation. The Land Rover driver pleaded guilty to negligent driving and received a 4-month suspended sentence. Post-crash review by the Department of State Growth recommended prohibition of right turns from Pipers Road, which was implemented through installation of regulatory signage in October 2015.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- failure to maintain proper lookout by driver of Land Rover
- increased vehicle traffic from residential development increasing crash risk at junction
Coroner's recommendations
- Prohibition of right turns from Pipers Road onto the East Derwent Highway; installation of regulatory signage to prevent right turns and require left turns with U-turn at Grass Tree Hill Road roundabout
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