Finding into death of Dara Francis Michael Cooke
Deceased
Dara Francis Michael Cooke
Demographics
26y, male
Date of death
2008-07-03
Finding date
2012-11-17
Cause of death
Multiple injuries (motor vehicle impact - pedestrian)
AI-generated summary
Dara Cooke, a 26-year-old man with alcohol dependency, died from multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision on Princess Street, Kew. On the evening of his death, Cooke consumed significant quantities of alcohol, with toxicological analysis revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.35 g/100mL (well above the limit at which severe CNS depression occurs). While intoxicated, he and a companion were refused service at a liquor store. Later that night, Cooke displayed severe high-risk pedestrian behaviour, at one point sitting in the middle of a roadway in front of oncoming traffic. He was struck by a vehicle travelling at speed and died from his injuries. The coroner found no evidence suggesting suicide but attributed the death to his severe alcohol intoxication combined with profoundly unsafe pedestrian behaviour. This case underscores the dangers of acute alcohol intoxication and the associated impaired judgment and risk-taking.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- severe alcohol intoxication
- high-risk pedestrian behaviour
- sitting on roadway in front of oncoming traffic
- dark clothing worn at night
- difficulty in visibility of pedestrian
Full text
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