Blackmans Bay man ‘not paying enough attention’ before fatal crash with truck

A coroner’s report has revealed what happened the day Blackmans Bay man Andrew Mole collided with a prime mover while driving on the Bass Highway, killing him instantly.

A TRUCK driver involved in a fatal collision with a “widely read” Blackmans Bay academic in 2018 took the only evasive action available to him after the man’s car crossed onto the wrong side of the road, a coroner has found.

Coroner Olivia McTaggart said in her report released yesterday that Andrew Robert Mole, 57, was not tired and was in good spirits when he left Burnie for Hobart on June 18 after visiting his elderly father.

He texted his wife before he set off and just over an hour later, paramedics confirmed he had died at the scene of a collision with a prime mover on the Bass Highway near Deloraine.

Dashcam footage from the truck captured the whole crash.

That and markings on the road were used in Senior Constable Michael Rybka’s crash investigation.

Fatal truck and car collision on the Bass Highway near Deloraine. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Ms McTaggart said that about 10.48am, Mr Mole and the car in front of him were closely following a slow moving Toll Tasmania delivery van.

The car in front of Mr Mole pulled out and overtook the van, and he immediately followed.

Part way through overtaking, he saw the oncoming prime mover in the opposite lane and tried to steer back into his own lane.

He lost control of his car, slid passenger side first and impacted heavily with the truck.

A senior constable who happened to be travelling past at the time, pulled over and found Mr Mole dead in the driver’s seat.

His autopsy shows he died immediately.

Ms McTaggart said the footage showed there was only just enough available roadway for the first car to overtake safely, and no space for Mr Mole’s Hyundai.

Fatal truck and car collision on the Bass Highway near Deloraine. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

She said the cause of the crash was Mr Mole’s action in overtaking the van when it was not safe to do so and the truck driver, Dean Maxwell Stephens, was driving in accordance with the road rules and was alert.

“Senior Constable Rybka was of the view that Mr Stephens took the only available

evasive action, by breaking heavily and pulling to the far left side of the road,” she said.

Ms McTaggart said the sad circumstances of Mr Mole’s death emphasised the consequences of “failing to take the utmost care when overtaking”.

“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Mole.”