Bailey Seabourne was killed in accident when his friend was speeding and driving recklessly

A Coroner has delivered her findings into the death of a Tasmanian teenager. Read what she had to say.

Coroners report for Bailey Seabourne's death

A Tasmanian teenager was killed when he was thrown from a vehicle driven by a friend that was speeding and driven “in a foolhardy and reckless manner”, a Coroner has found.

Bailey Matthew Grant Seabourne was 16 when he died in the accident at Wesley Vale in the state’s North-West on May 9, 2022.

He was a backseat passenger in a Nissan Navara utility that was driven by Seth Brown, a novice driver licensed at P1 level.

Ms Mackey said in the hours before the accident Mr Brown had been driving around Devonport with four passengers when his licence restricted him to driving with just one peer passenger aged between 16 and 21.

“At times he was speeding, performing burnouts and drifting in suburban streets and around public playgrounds and carparks,” she said.

“The manner of his driving posed a significant risk to himself, those present in his vehicle as well as to the public generally.”

Bailey Seabourne.

Ms Mackey said Mr Brown made three stops before the accident and it was “surprising” given his driving that the passengers remained in the ute.

“The decision making of Brown as driver of the vehicle and of his passengers who remained when they were aware of the risks he was taking with his driving is indicative of a lack of common sense and maturity of those present and endorses the sense behind the P1 restriction for peer passengers,” she said.

Evidence had been given from police, other motorists and passengers that the vehicle was speeding with the digital speedometer recording 127km/h before the accident on Mill Road near the turnoff to Devonport Airport.

Mr Brown lost control and the vehicle flipped.

Ms Mackey said Bailey was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected onto the roadway during the accident.

“He landed on the roadway a distance of 7.8m from the resting place of the vehicle,” she said.

“Bailey’s seatbelt was twisted in the buckle and jammed and could not be extended to meet the receiving end.

“The seatbelt was unable to be tested after the accident due to the damage sustained to the vehicle.”

Drugs or alcohol were not contributing factors to the accident and Ms Mackey extended her “sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Bailey”.

As a result of the accident, Mr Brown pleaded guilty and was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for three years

Originally published as Bailey Seabourne was killed in accident when his friend was speeding and driving recklessly