Coronial
VICother

Finding into death of Paul Flintoft

Deceased

PAUL MICHAEL JOSEPH FLINTOFT

Demographics

42y, male

Date of death

2007-11-03

Finding date

2012-05-17

Cause of death

injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision (co-driver)

AI-generated summary

Paul Michael Joseph Flintoft, aged 42, died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision while participating as co-driver/navigator in a sanctioned motor vehicle rally at Mount Buller. The vehicle, a 2006 Elfin Clubman roadster, understeered on a right-hand corner at approximately 34-45 km/h, ran off the road, and collided with trees. The coroner found that the vehicle was not fitted with a roll cage, which was recommended but not mandatory under CAMS regulations at the time. The coroner noted a significant possibility that a roll cage may have prevented the fatal outcome. The case highlights regulatory gaps in motorsport vehicle safety standards and the importance of enforcing safety equipment requirements for high-risk recreational activities.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.

Error types

Contributing factors

  • vehicle not fitted with roll cage
  • vehicle did not comply with CAMS regulations
  • regulatory non-compliance not prevented entry into event

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Open top vehicles and/or vehicles without full roll cages be excluded from competitions in events of this type
  2. Documentation applicable to such events be more readily identifiable so that individual officials can be held responsible for breach of regulations
  3. Investigations be made into improvement of communication, vehicle identification and vehicle separation in similar events
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