Finding into death of Joan Christine Harrison

69y · Female·Injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision (pedestrian)

Joan Harrison, 69, died from head injuries sustained when struck by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Richmond. The zebra crossing was positioned less than one metre from a give way line, causing it to be obscured by vehicles waiting to turn. Ms Harrison stepped in front of a car driven by Darcy Fox, who was looking right to monitor traffic. The collision occurred at low speed but Ms Harrison fell backwards, striking her head and sustaining a skull fracture with intracranial haemorrhage. She was taken to Alfred Hospital where scans confirmed traumatic brain injury. Respecting her Advance Care Directive against surgical procedures, she was extubated and provided comfort care, dying that evening. The coroner identified that the pedestrian crossing design contributed to the incident and recommended VicRoads relocate the crossing away from the give way line, install pedestrian fencing, and relocate the median traffic pole to improve safety.