Finding into death of Agostino Di Clemente
Deceased
Agostino Di Clemente
Demographics
82y, male
Date of death
2024-02-16
Finding date
2026-06-19
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle incident (car vs. tree, driver)
AI-generated summary
An 82-year-old man with recently diagnosed emerging Alzheimer's disease presented to his GP with lower respiratory infection and mild confusion. The GP appropriately arranged hospital admission via family transport. However, while waiting, the patient left the clinic and drove his van. His daughter followed him, alarmed as he drove in a confused manner in an unexpected direction. Emergency services were called but experienced difficulty locating the vehicles. The van veered off a rural road and struck a tree. The patient sustained multiple fatal injuries and was not wearing a seatbelt. The coroner found the clinical care appropriate and the death not preventable, but noted that fitness to drive given the recent dementia diagnosis and the mandatory self-reporting requirement to VicRoads were relevant issues. The finding was notified to VicRoads and Transport Victoria to inform future prevention efforts regarding elderly drivers with medical conditions affecting driving ability.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Recently diagnosed emerging Alzheimer's disease
- Acute confusion on day of collision
- Recent presentation with lower respiratory infection
- Not wearing seatbelt
- Driving while confused and disoriented
Coroner's recommendations
- Notification of finding to VicRoads and Transport Victoria to inform future prevention efforts regarding fitness to drive for elderly people with medical conditions affecting driving ability
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