Finding into death of Trevor Michael Breen

76y · Male·Multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle incident (car vs. truck, driver) with ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease as contributing factors

A 76-year-old man with a history of ischaemic heart disease and pacemaker died in a motor vehicle collision when his car failed to give way at an intersection with a freeway. The Subaru was 'coasting' at 30-32 km/h and never slowed as it crossed the give way line into the path of an oncoming truck travelling at 98 km/h. The collision caused extensive traumatic injuries (rib fractures, diaphragm rupture, liver laceration, aortic tear, pelvic fractures) that were immediately fatal. The truck driver was appropriately cautious and could not avoid the collision. No medical condition precipitated the crash; pacemaker data confirmed arrhythmia occurred after impact. This was a preventable error by the car driver who failed to observe traffic control signs and give way to priority traffic.