A driver who fatally struck a teenage boy riding a scooter along the Lyell Highway last year “had no time” to avoid hitting him, a coroner has concluded.
The 16-year-old, identified only as HN, had left his home in New Norfolk and was heading in the direction of Hobart when he was hit from behind around 8:40pm on July 23, 2023.
Coroner Simon Cooper said HN was wearing dark clothing and riding a black scooter not fitted with lights or reflectors.
He was not wearing a helmet.
The teenager underwent emergency brain surgery after being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital, when it was deemed he could not survive.
His life support was switched off on July 26.
“Given the area where the crash occurred it is completely reasonable in my view for a driver not to expect to encounter a pedestrian or a person on a scooter on the roadway,” Cooper said.
He noted that the car involved in the crash was found to be unroadworthy with several issues, but said there was no evidence that these defects caused or contributed to the collision.
“There is no evidence that speed, inattention, alcohol or drugs caused or contributed to the happening of the crash which claimed HN’s life,” Cooper said.
