Finding into death of Anthony Iannetta
Deceased
Anthony Iannetta
Demographics
18y, male
Date of death
2010-01-17
Finding date
2012-12-21
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained in motor vehicle collision
AI-generated summary
Anthony Iannetta, aged 18, died on January 17, 2010, when a Ford XR6 sedan driven by 19-year-old Steven Johnstone struck a tree on Plenty Road, Mill Park during a single-vehicle collision. Johnstone, intoxicated at BAC 0.19 (double the legal limit), had driven recklessly for an extended period at speeds of 150–200 km/h in 40–80 km/h zones, running multiple red lights, using his mobile phone, and transporting six occupants in a five-seat vehicle, breaching his P1 licence conditions. The impact killed Johnstone, William Te-Whare (15), Benjamin Hall (19), Mathew Lister (17), and Anthony Iannetta (18); his sister Elissa was the sole survivor. The coroner found the crash entirely preventable and recommended expanded alcohol interlock devices, night driving restrictions, passenger restriction offences, vehicle speed limiters, and enhanced enforcement of road safety laws, emphasizing that technology-based interventions may be necessary for high-risk drivers immune to conventional legal compliance measures.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Driver intoxication (BAC 0.19, exceeding P1 zero-limit requirement)
- Excessive speeding (150–200 km/h in zones with limits up to 80 km/h)
- Running red lights
- Using mobile phone while driving
- Passenger overloading (6 occupants in 5-seat vehicle)
- Breaching P1 licence passenger restriction
- Driver's aggressive and enraged mental state
- Driver's complete disregard for traffic laws
Coroner's recommendations
- VicRoads undertake a review into the appropriateness and feasibility of creating an offence for passengers who knowingly breach a vehicle passenger restriction
- VicRoads examine the impact of the night driving restriction currently imposed on probationary drivers in Western Australia to inform ongoing review into feasibility of night driving restrictions for probationary drivers in Victoria
- VicRoads and the Transport Accident Commission, in association with other road safety education partners, undertake an evaluation of the 'Fit2Drive' community road safety program for secondary school students to determine success in empowering participants to make safe decisions, modifying behaviour, and reducing crash risk
- VicRoads investigate options to expand the circumstances in which alcohol ignition interlock devices are fitted to vehicles of certain drivers who have demonstrated a propensity to repeatedly engage in high-risk driving behaviours, particularly probationary drivers
- VicRoads, in collaboration with road safety partners, continue to monitor and trial emerging vehicle safety technology including passive alcohol sensors, vehicle speed limiters, and Ford's 'My Key' technology to address excessive speeding and drink driving among high-risk drivers with poor self control
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