Coroner Robert Fletcher finds that negligent driving from Joshua Vaughan was the cause of Errol Fletcher’s death

A coroner has found that an L-plater failed to give way to an older man walking across a footpath outside a petrol station, before the man was hit. The coroner’s findings into the tragedy.

The BP on Main Street, Huonville.

A coroner has ruled that an unaccompanied L-plater’s negligent driving caused the death of an older man after hitting him.

Errol Fletcher, who was 74 at the time, died as a result of traumatic closed-head injuries after being hit by a car driven by Joshua Vaughan, near the BP petrol station at Huonville on November 30, 2022.

Following the incident, Vaughan pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving causing death and another count of being a learner driver who drove while unaccompanied.

He was given a 24-month suspended sentence.

In his report, Coroner Robert Webster said Mr Fletcher walked out onto Main Road at Huonville and headed north-easterly on the eastern side of Main Street past the BP service station.

“As he has walked on the footpath past the exit to the service station, he was hit by the vehicle driven by Mr Vaughan,” Magistrate Webster said.

“Mr Fletcher was struck by the bonnet of that vehicle and pushed backwards onto the roadway, where he struck the back of his head.

“Mr Vaughan stopped his vehicle and remained at the scene and assisted Mr Fletcher with others who stopped to help until they were relieved by medical personnel.”

Joshua Corin Vaughan, 27, (back) is charged with negligent driving causing death after allegedly striking a male pedestrian on Main St, Huonville on November 28, 2022.

Mr Fletcher was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he was placed into an induced coma before passing away on December 2, 2022.

Mr Vaughan returned a negative breath test at the scene after the incident and advised police he would not interview with authorities but instead provided a written statement.

“I finished filling up and pulled up to the side of the road to merge into traffic,” Mr Vaughan said in the statement.

“I looked to the left; the old guy was about two to three metres on the other side of the large BP sign and still on the footpath at that stage.

“He was walking towards me.

“My front tyres were near the crack in the bitumen where the BP driveway meets the road itself.”

Magistrate Webster concluded that “this very unfortunate accident occurred as a result of Mr Vaughan’s negligent driving”.

“Having seen Mr Fletcher walking towards his vehicle from the left prior to merging into the traffic on Main Street, he looked twice to the right, and he saw a gap in the traffic.

“He then drove off without checking on where Mr Fletcher was.

“Mr Vaughan, therefore, failed to keep a proper lookout, and he failed to give way to Mr Fletcher, who was entitled to right of way.”

Magistrate Webster conveyed his sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Fletcher.