Coroner's Finding: Smith, Lance Royal

62y · Male·Advanced atherosclerotic and hypertensive coronary vascular disease

Lance Royal Smith, aged 62, died from advanced atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease following a motorcycle crash on 4 November 2023. He was riding an unregistered, mechanically defective Harley Davidson at high speed after consuming cannabis. He failed to negotiate a corner, crashed, and sustained multiple serious injuries including subarachnoid haemorrhage, pneumothorax, acute aortic injury, and rib and vertebral fractures. He was admitted to Royal Hobart Hospital where he initially appeared to recover over one week but died unexpectedly on 12 November 2023. The coroner found his advanced heart disease was the primary cause, but his traumatic injuries significantly contributed. Hospital care was of good standard. The death was not preventable from a medical perspective but was avoidable through appropriate vehicle use and not riding under cannabis influence.