Crash deaths preventable

BRAKING and bracing for impact was all a driver could do when he saw a car cross into his lane on the South Arm Highway, a coroner was told.

That man, who was driving lawfully, survived the May 14, 2017 crash at Lauderdale, but the driver of the other vehicle, who had a blood alcohol reading 2½ times the legal limit, and his partner both died at the scene, Coroner Olivia McTaggart has found.

Ms McTaggart yesterday released her findings into the deaths of Brett John Stanley, 45, of South Arm, and Anna Jane Roberts, 48, of Dodges Ferry, who died after the car they were travelling in crossed to the wrong side of the road and crashed into a vehicle driven by Joshua Morrison.

Ms McTaggart said Mr Stanley’s “excessive alcohol and cannabis intoxication” — he was found to have had a blood alcohol reading of 0.128g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, and cannabis was also detected — impaired his judgment and driving ability when negotiating a right-hand curve.

“His vehicle travelled into the gravel verge. He then applied excessive steering input in an attempt to correct his position, which brought the vehicle into the incorrect lane and into the path of Mr Morrison’s vehicle,” Ms McTaggart said. She said Mr Morrison saw Mr Stanley’s vehicle cross to the incorrect side of the road towards him but did not have enough time to react in order to avoid the crash. Ms McTaggart said Mr Morrison told police “that he did not have time to take evasive action and that he could only brake heavily and brace for impact”.

She said Mr Morrison, who went to check on Mr Stanley and Ms Roberts and waved down other motorists to assist, did not cause the crash and was driving lawfully.

“The deaths of Ms Roberts and Mr Stanley were preventable. Mr Stanley should not have been driving a motor vehicle impaired by alcohol and cannabis. In this case, his inability to control the vehicle resulted in his own death and that of his passenger, Ms Roberts. It is fortunate that no other person was killed,” Ms McTaggart said.