Brown, Sarah Christine and Parr, Darren Mark

Unknown·Motor vehicle trauma: Sarah - cervical spine dislocation with spinal cord transection; Darren - postural asphyxia

On 6 May 2007, Sarah Brown and Darren Parr, rear seat passengers in a Volkswagen Golf, died following a single-vehicle motor accident on Barmoya Road near The Caves, Queensland. The vehicle, driven by Justin MacFarlane (BAC 0.116%), left a dangerous bend and rolled down a steep 15-metre embankment. Sarah died instantly from cervical spine dislocation and spinal cord transection. Darren died from postural asphyxia after becoming trapped upside down in the vehicle; he was not wearing a seatbelt. Contributing factors included the driver's alcohol impairment, driver inattention or fatigue, dangerous road design (no guard rail), and the failure of front seat occupants to check on rear passengers immediately after impact. The coroner found that while rescue of Darren might have been possible with fast, skilled extraction, the deaths were ultimately difficult to prevent given the crash severity. The primary recommendation was installation of guard rails on the dangerous bend to prevent similar accidents.