Coroner's Finding: Broomhall, Callum Dane

MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA

CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 I, Olivia McTaggart, Coroner, having investigated the death of Callum Dane Broomhall Find, pursuant to Section 28(1) of the Coroners Act 1995, that: a) The identity of the deceased is Callum Dane Broomhall; b) Mr Broomhall died as a result of injuries sustained in a single motor vehicle crash on Nuttings Road, Meander in Tasmania on 26 May 2017; c) The cause of Mr Broomhall’s death was multiple trauma; and d) Mr Broomhall died on 26 May 2017 at Meander in Tasmania.

In making the above findings I have had regard to the evidence gained in the comprehensive investigation into Callum Dane Broomhall’s death. The evidence comprises a detailed report by crash investigators, an opinion of the forensic pathologist as to cause of death, relevant police and witness affidavits, medical records and reports, and forensic evidence.

I make the following further findings, based upon the evidence, as to how Mr Broomhall’s death occurred.

Mr Broomhall was born in Tasmania on 24 November 1990 and was 26 years of age at the time of his death. He was engaged to his long-term partner and employed as a farm hand.

He was employed by Damien McLennan and worked on farms owned by Mr McLennan at Nuttings Road, Meander and Oaks Road, Carrick. Mr McLennan lived at the Meander property.

On 26 May 2017 Mr McLennan and Mr Broomhall travelled from the Meander property to the Carrick property where they worked until around 5.30pm. They had worked separately on the farm for most of the day and only had brief contact with each other.

After completing work Mr McLennan and Mr Broomhall travelled to the Bracknell Hotel for after work drinks. They then travelled to Deloraine and consumed further alcoholic drinks at the Deloraine Hotel. The evidence suggests Mr Broomhall had consumed approximately eight beers. They arrived back at the Meander property at around 8.30pm where Mr Broomhall then left in his vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser flat tray utility.

Shortly after leaving the Meander property Mr Broomhall was travelling in a westerly direction along Nuttings Road when he was involved in a motor vehicle crash. His vehicle collided with a tree on the side of the roadway.

The Land Cruiser was observed by witness, Lucinda Coey, who drove past. She and her boyfriend subsequently attended the scene and found Mr Broomhall in the vehicle.

Emergency Services were contacted.

Mr Broomhall’s father, Craig Broomhall, was a paramedic working on-call that evening and was first to arrive at the scene. He commenced treatment on his son who was conscious upon arrival but appeared to be in critical condition.

Further emergency services personnel arrived and Mr Broomhall was removed from the vehicle and further treated. However, his condition quickly deteriorated. At 10.25pm he was declared deceased at the scene. Witnesses who first arrived at the scene observed that Mr Broomhall was not wearing a seatbelt.

An investigation into the circumstances of the crash was conducted by First Class Constable Nigel Housego, a qualified crash investigator. From the scene investigation Constable Housego concluded that the Land Cruiser had been driven west along a straight section of Nuttings Road prior to the crash. It had then run off to the left of the sealed road surface onto the gravel verge with the left side wheels. Right steering input was then applied to the vehicle causing it to enter into an out of control clockwise slip rotation known as a ‘yaw’, before impacting with a tree on the opposite side of the roadway. The distance between where the Land Cruiser first left the sealed road to the tree was measured as 71.8 metres.

Constable Housego calculated that the minimum speed of the vehicle was 79 km/h at impact. The speed limit for the road was 100 km/h.

An autopsy was conducted upon Mr Broomhall by pathologist, Dr Terry Brain. He determined that the cause of death was multiple trauma consistent with a motor vehicle crash. Toxicological testing of Mr Broomhall’s blood returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.115 grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Mr Broomhall was a diagnosed diabetic. His father, who tested his son’s blood sugar levels upon attending to him at the crash and supplied an affidavit for the coronial investigation, has suggested the possibility that a hypoglycaemic attack may have contributed to the crash.

Upon receiving this information I sought expert review as to whether a diabetic event may have contributed to Mr Broomhall’s loss of control. I received opinions from Dr Brain, Dr A J Bell (coronial medical consultant), and forensic pathologist, Dr Don Ritchey. All concluded that Mr Broomhall was not in a hypoglycaemic state at any relevant time leading to the crash. I accept their opinion.

Mr Broomhall was driving with a high level of alcohol in his body at the time of the crash, likely in excess of twice the legal limit. The evidence of the toxicologist is that at this level the resulting impairment of driving performance increases the risk of a crash between 5 and 10 times that of a driver with nil blood alcohol.

In this sad case Mr Broomhall’s high consumption of alcohol and failure to wear a seatbelt were major contributors to the crash and the injuries resulting in death.

Comments and Recommendations: The death of Mr Broomhall at such a young age, and in circumstances that were preventable, represents a tragic loss of life. In particular, Mr Broomhall’s death emphasises the high risk of loss of vehicle control when the driver is intoxicated, and the increased risk of injury and death when a seatbelt is not worn.

I extend my appreciation to investigating officer, Senior Constable Frank Kuric, and Crash Investigator, Senior Constable Nigel Housego for their investigation.

I acknowledge the most traumatic circumstances of Mr Craig Broomhall unknowingly attending the fatal motor vehicle crash involving his son and his brave efforts in attempting resuscitation.

I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Callum Broomhall.

Dated: 24 April 2018 at Hobart in the State of Tasmania.

Olivia McTaggart Coroner These findings have been amended by an order under section 58 of the Coroners Act 1995 dated 24 April 2018 by removing the word “unresponsive” from the first paragraph on page 2 of the original findings.