Inquest into the Death of Wesley Russell Yamera

AI-generated summary

Wesley Russell Yamera, 17 years old, died on 22 December 2002 from head injury sustained when he fell from a police security vehicle cage. On 18 December, Yamera was apprehended by Fitzroy Crossing police after a vehicle pursuit, handcuffed with hands behind his back, and placed in a cage attached to a Toyota Landcruiser. During transport back to the police station, the cage door opened and Yamera fell backwards onto a dirt road, striking the back of his head. The coroner found the death was accidental but resulted from multiple systemic failures: the cage door was not secured with a padlock (key unavailable), the vehicle had poor visibility of the cage from the cab, the cage interior was unsafe with smooth metal surfaces, the wire mesh had gaps allowing access to locking mechanisms, and Yamera remained handcuffed in an unsafe position throughout transport. The coroner concluded the death was preventable and resulted from inadequate vehicle design, lack of safety protocols, and failure by the Police Service to address known hazards identified in prior incidents.

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