Finding into death of Pauline Mary Riordan

61y · Female·injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision as a passenger

A 61-year-old woman died from hypovolaemic shock and cardiac arrest following a motor vehicle collision in rural Victoria. She was trapped in her vehicle for approximately 90 minutes with severe crush injuries and lower limb entrapment. While paramedics provided appropriate field care including fluids and analgesia, the extended extrication time delayed definitive treatment including blood transfusion available only at hospital. Expert evidence indicated that earlier extraction might have improved outcomes, though earlier extraction would not have definitively prevented death. The emergency response system functioned appropriately. Road rescue personnel made reasonable decisions about extrication methods. Key lessons include the need for rapid transport of trauma patients to centres with transfusion capability and potential benefits of pre-hospital blood products, tourniquets, and improved communication between trauma specialists and paramedics in regional areas.