Deceased
Leonie Joy Bedggood
Demographics
female
Coroner
Coroner Tim McDonald
Date of death
2008-12-18
Finding date
2010-12-01
Cause of death
Hypovolaemic shock secondary to multi-trauma resulting from a motor vehicle accident
AI-generated summary
Leonie Bedggood died from hypovolaemic shock following a motor vehicle accident caused by an unattached fruit bin trailer. A trailer became detached from a towing vehicle due to mechanical failure of the coupling system and collided head-on with Ms Bedggood's vehicle. The coroner identified that the detachment resulted from a combination of road undulations lifting the drop bolt, vehicle deceleration, and jamming of the circular spring clip in the tow ball hole. This was a mechanical/engineering failure rather than a medical error. The coroner recommended review of trailer attachment regulations to prevent similar incidents.
AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Rule 60(2)
Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008
Court Reference: 5666/2008
Im the Coroners Court of Victoria at Swan Hill
I, Tim McDonald, Coroner, having investigated the death oft
Details of deceased:
Surname: BEDGGOOD First name: Leonie Address: § Cockerell Court, Swan Hill, 3585
WITHOUT holding an inquest:
find that the identity of the deceased was Leonie Joy BEDGGOOD
and death occurred on 18 December 2008
at Swan Hill Hospital, Swan Hill
from
Hypovolaemic shock secondary to multi-trauma resulting from a motor
vehicle accident
Pursuant to Section 67(2) of the Coroners Act 2008, an inquest into the death was not held and the deceased was not immediately before the person died, a person placed in custody or care; but there is a public interest to be served in making tindings regarding the following circumstances:
On 18 December 2008, shortly before 8 pm, Richard Dow was driving his Holden Rodeo with a fruit bin attached in a easterly direction on Woorinen South Road. The fruit bin trailer became detached from the tow bar of the Rodeo and collided with a Mazda sedan being driven in the oppasite direction by Leonie Bedggood. :
In a statement prepared for the Coroner, Senior Constable Stuart Neil Jones from the Mechanical Investigation Unit of Victoria Police, states —
“The trailer has become detached from the tow vehicle due to several circumstances, The front of the trailer has lifted due to the undulations in the road lifting the drop bolt, at the same time the trailer has moved forward due to the vehicle decelerating, As this has happened the drop pin has lifted with the trailer causing the linch pin and its circular spring clip to come into forceful contact with the underside of the towbar tongue. With drop pin being forward at the top and the drop pin’s rotation at just the right point of degree, the circular spring clip has jammed in the tow ball hole; the force of this contact has caused the circular clip to be dislodged allowing the linch
pin to come adrift. If the drop pin had rotated a few degrees either way due to the vibrations caused by the rough road surface, the circular spring clip would have partially opened and then closed after contacting the underside of the towbar tongue.”
Pursuant to Section 72(2) of the Coroners Act 2008, ] make the following recommendation(s) connected with the death:
1 A review of the Regulations relating to trailers, and their attachment to vehicles, take place by the appropriate authorities. See report of Sgt. Les McPhee dated 28 December 2009 attached herewith.
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