Man, 86, dies after flatmate reverses into him in driveway at Jefferson Ln, Palm Beach

A Palm Beach man who died on Saturday after being struck by a vehicle on the driveway of his residence was hit by his reversing flatmate, who thought he’d hit a wheelie bin, police say.

Paramedics worked on the 86-year-old Palm Beach crash victim, but he died at the scene. Picture: Kevin Farmer

An elderly man who died after he was hit by a car in the driveway of his Palm Beach residence on Saturday was accidentally struck by his reversing flatmate, who thought he’d collided with a wheelie bin, police say.

Emergency services were called to Jefferson Lane at 12.15pm after reports an 86-year-old man had been hit by a car.

Paramedics treated the man for life-threatening head injuries, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said, but he died at the scene.

The Forensic Crash Unit’s investigations into the incident are continuing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Gold Coast Police Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles addressing media on Monday, March 31, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

On Monday, Gold Coast Police Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles said the 86-year-old deceased was walking behind his 48-year-old male flatmate’s vehicle, a 2006 Ford Falcon sedan, when the younger man reversed into him, causing him “significant injuries”.

“We don’t believe much speed was involved,” Superintendent Miles said.

“It doesn’t take much to take a life.”

The driver, Superintendent Miles said, “thought he’d clipped the wheelie bin”.

Police were treating the death as a “tragic accident,” with no charges expected to be laid at this stage.

“[The flatmate would] be doing it pretty tough,” Superintendent Miles said.

Originally published as Man, 86, dies after flatmate reverses into him in driveway at Jefferson Ln, Palm Beach