Crash cause a mystery: coroner

Probe into man’s death

A CORONER has been unable to determine the cause of a crash that claimed the life of a northern Tasmanian man last year.

Coroner Simon Cooper yesterday published his findings into the death of Daniel Peter Swan, 28, who was killed in a crash on the West Tamar Highway at Loira on May 13 last year.

Mr Cooper said neither Mr Swan nor the other driver involved in the crash, Graeme John Stronach, were affected by alcohol or drugs, were not speeding and there was no evidence mobile-phone use had contributed to or caused the crash.

“Witnesses saw nothing unusual about [Mr Stronach’s] driving until, inexplicably, he veered into Mr Swan’s path,” Mr Cooper said.

He said both vehicles were mechanically sound, the road surface was in good condition and weather conditions did not contribute.

Mr Cooper said Mr Swan died at the scene.

“Mr Stronach was very badly injured. When spoken to by investigators nearly a month after the crash — he had been too badly injured to be spoken to any earlier — he said he had no memory of the crash,” he said.

“He was unable to explain why his vehicle had crossed to the wrong side of the road.”

Mr Cooper said the investigation into Mr Swan’s death had been careful and comprehensive but “it has been impossible to identify just why it was Mr Stronach’s vehicle travelled into the incorrect lane”.

He said a review of Mr Stronach’s medical records did not suggest he was unfit to drive before the crash.

He said Mr Stronach was diagnosed in October last year with obstructive sleep apnoea, but there was no evidence he was suffering from the condition at the time of the crash.

Mr Cooper said Mr Swan was loved by many.

“The impact of Mr Swan’s death upon all those who loved him, and whose lives he touched, is powerfully expressed in the victim impact statements made by his mother, father and sister provided to me as part of the coronial brief,” he said.

Mr Stronach, now 61, of West Launceston, pleaded guilty in the Launceston Magistrates Court on January 10 to failing to keep left of a dividing line.

He was fined $ 1630 and received three demerit points.