Inquest into the death of Road Death 35 of 2024

20y · Female·Severe traumatic brain injury sustained in a pedestrian versus motor vehicle collision

A 20-year-old Aboriginal female pedestrian with bilateral hearing loss was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated male driver (BAC 0.158%) travelling at 74 kph in a 60 kph zone. She suffered catastrophic traumatic brain injury and was declared brain dead four days later. Two other drivers successfully avoided her on the roadway. The coroner identified multiple contributing factors: driver intoxication and speeding were primary; the pedestrian's hearing loss, headphone use, and position on the roadway contributed. This tragedy illustrates the compounding dangers of impaired driving, excessive speed, and reduced pedestrian awareness. The case highlights the critical importance of road safety education, drink-driving prevention, and awareness of disability-related vulnerabilities in road environments.