Finding into death of Chloe Breanna Blackney
Deceased
Chloe Breanna Blackney
Demographics
11y, female
Date of death
2014-02-15
Finding date
2017-07-11
Cause of death
Multiple injuries
AI-generated summary
This coronial finding concerns the death of 11-year-old Chloe Blackney following a motor vehicle collision between a 4WD and a heavy truck on a wet, winding rural road. The collision resulted from multiple interconnected factors: the truck driver travelled at 53-58 km/hr approaching a sharp left turn with a posted 45 km/hr advisory speed limit, the road surface exhibited significant differential skid resistance between wheel paths (contributing to rear-wheel slide-out), and the truck was unladen (reducing weight-dependent traction). Expert evidence demonstrated that had the driver either travelled at or below the advisory speed limit, or had road friction been uniform, the collision would likely not have occurred. VicRoads had identified the road section as being in poor condition and installed warning signs, but resurfacing was deferred pending funding. No mechanical defects, medical errors, or system failures were identified—this was a tragic outcome of interactive environmental and operational factors.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Truck driver speed at or near critical curve speed
- Significant differential skid resistance between left and right wheel paths
- Wet road conditions
- Truck in unladen state reducing traction
- Road surface deterioration
Coroner's recommendations
- Copy of finding provided to family of Chloe Blackney, VicRoads, Transport Accident Collision Commission, Child Safety Commission, and investigating police officers
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