Coroner's Finding: Gurr, Phillip Leslie

54y · Male·Acute severe trauma sustained in a motor vehicle crash, including transected thoracic spine at T10, multiple bilateral rib fractures, separation of symphysis pubis, possible bilateral femoral fractures, dislocations of ankles and right elbow, and aortic perforation

54-year-old male died in a head-on motor vehicle collision on 13 February 2020. He was driving westbound when his vehicle crossed centre lines into the eastbound lane, colliding with an oncoming vehicle. The cause of lane drift could not be definitively determined; possibilities included drowsiness (he woke at 3 am daily, had vehicle heater on), alcohol consumption (blood alcohol 0.024 g/100mL), distraction from smoking/drinking while driving, a prolonged cough he had suffered for 8 weeks, or an undiagnosed cardiac event (he had 50% coronary artery narrowing). The coroner condemned the unsafe practice of consuming alcohol while driving. No mechanical defects were identified in either vehicle. The coroner could not definitively determine the accident cause due to insufficient evidence.