Vintage sports car enthusiast , 65, died while at rally in Australia
AVINTAGE sports car enthusiast from was crushed by his vintage Bugatti when his wife crashed it during a car rally in Australia, an inquest heard.
Derek Howard-orchard, 65, a petroleum engineer from Cheltenham, was attending the rally in Victoria, south of Melbourne, nearly two years ago when he died, the Gloucester inquest was told.
The car crashed on a bend on the Wilsons Promontory Road and overturned. Mr Howard-orchard was thrown from the car and crushed, dying instantaneously. His wife, Gilly was airlifted to hospital and survived.
The tragedy happened on March 11, 2017 but it has taken until this month for the Gloucestershire coroner Katy Skerrett to receive reports from police and other authorities in Australia.
Mr Howard-orchard and his wife began the Victoria leg of their tour in February 2017,the inquest was told. On March 11 they departed Inverloch to travel to Wilsons National Park, stopping until late morning. before leaving to head for Tidal River.
Gilly drove a short distance and turned left onto a straight decline. At the bottom the road curved and she hit an uneven segment of the road known as the ‘push out’ losing control of the Bugatti.
The car steered right before an aggressive turn to the left at which point Derek was thrown from the car and crushed as the vehicle turned on top of him, the coroner was told.
‘A post mortem confirmed cause of death as multiple injuries which would have caused instant death.
During investigations into the tragedy the Bugatti was discovered to have suffered a mechanical fault which damaged the braking system on the vehicle causing its loss of control.
Vikroads which manages the arterial road network acknowledged that, although the road was uneven, it did not meet the criteria as hazardous and no complaints had been made in the 12 months prior to the incident.
The coroner in Australia was satsified that, although there was still an obvious defect, it did not present an immediate hazard and therefore did not require immediate treatment.
It was also noted that the age of the Bugatti would make it more likely to suffer the effects of Australiian roads.
Concluding, senior coroner Ms Skerrett recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision.
“I am satisfied with the medical cause of death as multiple injuries as a result of a vehicle incident,” she said.
The day after his death, The Vintage Sports-car Club, issued a statement saying: “It is with great sadness that the club announces the passing of member, Derek Howard-orchard.
“Derek and wife, Gilly were taking part in a car rally in Australia this past weekend when they were involved in an accident in their Bugatti Brescia.
“Gilly was hospitalised and later discharged but tragically, Derek died at the scene.” echo.news@localworld.co.uk
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