Inquest into the Death of David John PIETRALA
Delivered on :3 September 2019
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Jenkin
Recommendations :N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : The deceased was 34 years of age when died from multiple injuries after he lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and crashed. The deceased was attempting to evade police and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence.
At about 11.40 pm on 10 February 2016, two police officers were conducting routine patrols on Stock Road, Bibra Lake. As the officers were about 100 metres from the intersection of Stock Road and Spearwood Avenue, they saw a car and a 1,000 cc Honda motorcycle ridden by the deceased travelling east on Spearwood Avenue. Both vehicles appeared to be travelling over the posted speed limit. When the motorcycle turned left onto Port Kembla Drive and headed north, police officers followed. Police were unable to read the number on the motorcycle’s registration plate and activated the police car’s emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to intercept the deceased.
The deceased had turned right onto Phoenix Road and accelerated heavily. Police lost sight of the motorcycle as it travelled over the crest of a hill and the deceased crashed as he tried to run left onto North Lake Road. When police arrived at the scene, the motorcycle was on fire and the deceased was lying on his stomach on the verge of the southbound lanes of North Lake Road. Police began CPR and called an ambulance. A bystander who identified herself as a nurse assisted the police to care for the deceased. However, despite the efforts of police, ambulance officers and hospital staff the deceased could not be revived.
The Coroner concluded that the actions of the police officers were reasonable and concluded that their actions did not contribute to, or cause the death of the deceased.
Catch Words : Police Pursuit : Motorcycle : Disqualification of driver’s licence : Multiple Injuries : Accident
Last updated: 7-Oct-2019
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