A coronial inquest has heard the death of an 86-year-old man in a crash almost six years ago was "predictable and potentially preventable". Edward John Raines died on the Karoonda Highway when his car collided with a semi-trailer.
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00:00It was just three weeks after the police ordered Edward John Raines be reassessed for his fitness
00:08to drive when he collided with a semi-trailer on the Corunda Highway.
00:13His driving came to the attention of police when he failed to give way to a police car
00:18when pulling out of a service station in March 2019.
00:22The inquest is exploring whether Mr Raines' death could have been prevented if there was
00:26earlier intervention.
00:28Opening the inquest, Council Assisting the Coroner Martin Kirby said the process of determining
00:34whether someone is fit to drive takes too long.
00:37He said the system needs to either be shortened or other changes need to be made so these
00:42drivers are not able to freely drive during the process.
00:46The police officer who stopped Mr Raines at the service station before the accident said
00:51he was powerless to stop him from driving.
00:54But it was evident he was a danger to the road, describing him as incapable of driving
00:59on the road at the time and saying he didn't think he was fully aware of his surrounds.
01:04The inquest heard that SA Police and the Department of Transport have been communicating about
01:10improving the timeliness of assessing a person's fitness to drive.
01:14It also heard that there is currently no requirement for elderly people to undergo practical assessments.
01:21The inquest will continue tomorrow.
01:24For more information visit www.fema.gov