Inquest into the Death of Anita Jade BOARD

8y · Female·complications of multiple injuries sustained in motor vehicle crash

Eight-year-old Anita Board died from catastrophic brain injury sustained in a motor vehicle crash at Perth Motorplex on her first junior drag racing licensing attempt. Her dragster failed to slow adequately after the finish line and crashed into a concrete barrier while attempting to exit through a side gate at excessive speed. Contributing factors included: inadequate training for a first-time driver; vehicle defects affecting brake function requiring excessive pressure beyond the child's capacity; unclear finish line markers; conflicting signals from a track official; and limited speed control mechanisms. The coroner identified systemic safety gaps in junior dragster racing including inconsistent track official practices, absence of formal driver training programmes, and lack of infrastructure improvements. Recommendations focus on graduated training, enhanced vehicle scrutineering, improved finish line visibility, consideration of alternative exit procedures, mandatory head restraints, remote cut-off devices, and enhanced emergency coordination protocols.