Finding into death of Alicia Alison Chloe Trimnell

IN THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA AT BENDIGO Court Reference: COR 2012 002360

FINDING INTO DEATH WITHOUT INQUEST

Form 38 Rule 60(2) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

I, Richard Wright, Coroner having investigated the death of Alicia Alison Chloe TRIMNELL

without holding an inquest:

find that the identity of the deceased was Alicia Alison Chloe TRIMNELL born on 01/03/1993

and the death occurred on 21/06/2012

at Mclvor Highway, Longlea, at the intersection with Bowles Road

from:

1 (a) MULTIPLE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE INCIDENT

(DRIVER)

Pursuant to section 67(2) of the Coroners Act 2008, I make findings with respect to the following circumstances:

Alicia Trimnell was 19 years of age when she died as a consequence of a motor vehicle accident.

The accident occurred at Longlea, a rural area between Bendigo and the small town of Axedale, on the McIvor Highway. The highway connects Bendigo and Heathcote and carries a high volume of commuter and other traffic. The accident occurred on the morning before the Winter Solstice in 2012, at 8.05 am. The sun had risen at 7.35 am, It was wet at the time, with steady rain, overcast sky and low light.

Ms Trimnell was delivering her younger siblings to the bus stop, for them to be conveyed to school.

The stop was at the intersection of Bowles Road, a gravel road, and the McIvor Highway. When she arrived, the bus was parked on the south side of the Highway, facing west. The bus’ wheels were off the paved tarmac. The highway at this point was divided by a continuous solid white line, on the side facing the school bus and a dashed line on the other side.

Alicia Trimnell parked her vehicle in front of the bus, facing west, and let her two younger siblings off to board the bus. There was one more vehicle between Alicia and the bus.

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At this time, Carolyn Jubb was driving west, towards Bendigo, in her grey coloured 2010 Toyota Corolla. She did not have her head lights or parkers illuminated. Although she was driving at about 80 kph, her grey car could have been difficult to see in the low light and poor weather conditions.

As Ms Jubb approached the bus, Alicia Trimnell made a U-turn in front of her, over the continuous white line. The vehicles collided. Alicia Trimnell died ftom multiple injuries incurred in the collision, Ms Jubb’s vehicle, was relatively modern, with appropriate airbags at the front and knee levels. Ms Jubb’s injuries were commensurably lessened.

The formal finding of the cause of Alicia Trimnell’s death by the pathologist is set out above.

Observations

The Coroner’s brief for this matter was prepared by Leading Senior Constable Buchanan of the Bendigo Highway Patrol. Mr Buchanan made two pertinent observations relating to this unfortunate accident: ;

It is likely that side and curtain airbags would have reduced the severity of Trimnell’s injury.

It has previously been observed that parents often hand their older vehicles to their children, whereas it is the novice driver who is more likely to need modern safety features. Further education surrounding vehicle selection for novice drivers could be beneficial.

Jubb’s vehicle would have been more visible with its headlights operating. Victorian Road Rule 215 already requires headlights to be used in “hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility”. Further education surrounding vehicle colour selection could be beneficial. (Ms Jubb entered a plea of guilty to a charge of “careless driving” in the Bendigo Magistrates Court in October 2013.)

L would recommend that these issues be referred to VicRoads for its consideration.

Signature:

Coroner:- Richard Wright i) Date: 24 October 2013.

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