Inquest set to be held into death of Maryborough’s Damian Lawton

An inquest into the death of a young dad killed during a police pursuit is set to be held as his father spoke of what he hopes will come out of the investigation.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE DISCUSS USE WITH YOUR EDITOR - Crash victim Damian Lawton with his beloved daughter, Aurora.

An inquest will be held into the death of a Maryborough man killed in a crash after police tried to intercept the motorcycle he was riding, with the man’s father hoping it will help avoid similar tragedies.

Damian Lawton, 26, died on May 30, 2020, when he crashed his motorcycle into a car at the intersection of Woodstock and Neptune streets.

Crash victim Damian Lawton with his beloved daughter, Aurora.

Police had been called out after complaints were made about excessive noise.

A Road Policing Command motorcycle officer patrolling nearby attempted to intercept Mr Lawton’s Suzuki GSX750, but he allegedly evaded police, accelerating away at speed and travelling through a stop sign, where he collided with a white Holden Barina and died at the scene.

The inquest is set to be held on November 1 and 2 to examine the police pursuit that day and the adequacy of the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young father’s death.

Mr Lawton’s father Ronald will be at the inquest at Maryborough court, saying he would be there for himself and for his son.

Tribute to Damian Lawton killed in a motorcycle accident – father Ron Lawton and Damian's girlfriend Rayleigh Burke at the crash site on the corner of Woodstock and Neptune Sts in Maryborough. Photo: Alistair Brightman

He said he was unsure what might come out of it, but he understood it would be an examination of the pursuit that led to his son’s death.

Ronald said he knew the officer was just doing his job.

“Damian was in the wrong, absolutely,” he said.

But he hopes an examination of the pursuit will lead to new training measures for police so that similar tragedies could be avoided in the future.

In the aftermath of Mr Lawton’s death, Ronald had shared memories of his beloved son.

While he was the first to admit Damian had his troubles, Ronald wanted people to know his son was a good person and was deeply loved.

“He was a normal 26-year-old,” Ronald said.

“He was a pain in the butt and a loveable kid.”