Finding into death of Neil Phillip Hay
Deceased
Neil Phillip Hay
Demographics
48y, male
Date of death
2013-11-29
Finding date
2014-09-29
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained as a driver of a motorcycle
AI-generated summary
Neil Hay, a 48-year-old experienced motorcyclist, died from multiple injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on Eildon-Jamieson Road, Victoria. He approached a left-hand sweeping bend at excessive speed, braked heavily causing rear wheel skid, and was thrown from his bike into trees and down an embankment. The coroner found no mechanical failure (brake recall investigated and cleared) or impairment (minimal alcohol 0.01 g/100ml). The death resulted from rider error—excessive speed for road conditions on a challenging, winding mountain road. This case highlights the risks of high-performance sports bikes on technical terrain, the importance of speed management on curves, and the limitations of emergency response in remote areas. Road design and visibility improvements were recommended to reduce future motorcycle collisions on this high-risk route.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Contributing factors
- excessive speed for the bend
- inability to brake in time
- challenging road geometry with constant sharp bends
- rear wheel skid on dry bitumen
- high-performance sports motorcycle
- limited emergency response time in remote area
Coroner's recommendations
- That the proposed joint funding application by Murrindindi and Mansfield Shire Councils to the Federal Government's Black Spot Program be prepared and submitted without delay
- In the event of the application not being successful, the identified safety interventions be funded and implemented by the responsible councils, including: remarking the centre line; providing fog lines; providing additional chevron signage at bends; providing additional guardrails; providing 'Black Ice' signs at critical locations; providing additional signs for high-risk motorcycle areas; eliminating reverse camber; reviewing and providing advisory speed limit signs on slow corners; and providing two helipad locations with 40m radius for air ambulance access
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