Inquest into road death of 86-year-old Edward Raines after fitness to drive request

An 86-year-old driver who died in a horrific head-on collision was found with a letter in his car requesting his fitness to drive be assessed, an inquest has heard.

An elderly driver’s death could have possibly been prevented if the systems surrounding fitness to drive assessments were more effective.

Edward John Raines’ licence was subject to a medical review after a near-miss with a police officer weeks prior to his death but he continued to drive.

Opening the inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting Martin Kirby told the court Mr Raines, 86, was observed driving in a dangerous manner by other road users on April 12, 2019.

Mr Raines, who was travelling in a southerly direction along Karoonda Highway near Sandleton, was on the incorrect side on the road when he collided head-on with a truck coming in the opposite direction.

The truck rolled and came to a stop on the highway, with the “shaken” but not seriously injured driver able to extract himself from the truck through the front windscreen.

Edward Raines was killed in a head-on collision in April 2019. Photo: Supplied by family

The court heard his death was “predictable and possibly preventable”. Photo: Supplied by family

“Mr Raines’ vehicle suffered catastrophic damage to the front right hand side and Mr Raines was later located deceased in the driver’s seat,” Mr Kirby said.

The court heard Sergeant Mark Wright of Berri police station observed Mr Raines failing to give way to him a few weeks prior to the accident.

He formed the opinion that Mr Raines was not a competent driver and submitted a request later that day for a medical review of Mr Raines to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

On March 26, 2019, the Department sent a letter to Mr Raines requesting he respond within seven days to organise a medical examination of his fitness to drive.

Mr Raines did not respond to the Department at any time prior to his death but did continue to drive.

“Mr Raines’ death, I would suggest, was predictable and potentially preventable,” Mr Kirby said.

“However, the systems that are in place that might have prevented the outcome work too slowly to be effective.

“The system needs to be either shortened or other changes need to be made so that these drivers are not able to freely drive during the process.”

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Sgt Wright told the court he was approaching a BP service station driving south on Bookpurnong Road in an unmarked police vehicle.

“Mr Raines pulled out … he pretty much pulled in front of me, caused me to brake heavily, I had to swerve so I didn’t cause a T-bone collision,” he said.

Sgt Wright said even with the lights flashing it took Mr Raines nearly a kilometre before he pulled over and was questioned about failing to give way.

Sergeant Mark Wright of Berri police station gave evidence on Tuesday. Photo: Lucy Rutherford Photo: Lucy Rutherford

“He pretty much said to me that he didn’t know I was there,” he said.

Sgt Wright said he’d describe Mr Raines as being “incapable of driving” and “dangerous to the road” at that particular time.

Sgt Wright attended the scene of Mr Raines’ collision on the day of his death, where he found the letter from the Department in his car.

The court heard Sgt Wright, who cautioned Mr Raines for failing to give way, had no power or authority to take him off the road immediately.

However, when asked if he would like to be able to take the sort of action under certain circumstances, Sgt Wright replied “that would be the ideal scenario to be able to do that”.

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Inquest into road death of 86-year-old Edward Raines after fitness to drive request