Coroners Court inquest to Norman MacKenzie death begins
A devastated bystander has recounted how he almost suffered the same tragic fate as an elderly man who was killed by a cyclist while crossing a busy road in St. Kilda, just months after witnessing a similar incident at the same crossing.
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The tragic death of a man who was killed by a cyclist while walking his dog in St Kilda, is being scrutinised by a long-awaited coronial inquest.
Victoria’s Coroners Court heard Norman MacKenzie, 85, was crossing Jacka Blvd at dusk with his grey Staffordshire Bull Terrier, when he was struck by Port Melbourne cyclist Jarei Remick on April 18, 2017.
The court heard from multiple witnesses it was likely Mr MacKenzie had begun crossing the busy road on a green pedestrian signal, but had become stranded on the median strip before choosing to continue crossing.
Witness Filipino Stoimenov, told the court he was waiting at the lights opposite, when he saw Mr MacKenzie with his dog in the middle of the road.
The witness testified the red pedestrian signal was flashing and the clicking sound had stopped, before Mr MacKenzie appeared to check the road and cross.
“I assumed it was safe also,” Mr Stoimenov said.
“I did not hear or see the bike coming.”
Alarmingly, Mr Stoimenov revealed it was the second collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian that he had seen at the congested crossing in less than two years
In 2016, he saw a female cyclist hit a pedestrian crossing on a red light.
“It was pretty much the same situation, Mr Stoimenov said.
“I was standing in the same spot on my way to the gym. It wasn’t fatal but it was a pretty bad impact.”
Another witness, Luis Menendez, described the sound of the harrowing accident that killed Mr MacKenzie.
“I heard the noise,” he said.
“There was an exclamation or something. I turned at the same time as hearing the noise on the ground like bodies falling.
“The cyclist was trying to sit down... he was clearly in shock. I left him sitting because I went immediately to help the man. He was laying on his left side with his head touching the kerb.”
Another witness who was in her car stuck in traffic said she saw the cyclist pass before hearing a loud sound and seeing a dog run across the road without someone holding its lead.
Investigators told the court Mr MacKenzie’s head has struck the kerb and his injuries were believed to be not survivable from early on.
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Mr MacKenzie was taken to hospital by ambulance, but died from his head injuries that night.
The court heard the cyclist, Mr Remick, was travelling at an estimated speed of 35km/h, in an area with a 60km/h speed restriction, and was left emotionally devastated by the incident.
Police have previously cleared the 30-year-old rider after reviewing CCTV footage and determining the bike did not run a red light and was not to blame for the crash.
Previously, the case has raised concerns over government compensation payments for pedestrians hit by cyclists.
Mr MacKenzie’s family highlighted that the TAC did not assist with medical or funeral costs - despite other road victims being eligible - because bikes weren’t a registered vehicle.