An elderly woman who died after crashing her car into the side of a Sandy Bay aged care facility likely suffered a medical episode, a coroner has determined.
Mary Kathleen Stuart, 83, passed away on the grounds of St Canice Lifestyle Village on May 23, 2022.
Coroner Robert Webster said Stuart sustained unsurvivable head, neck, chest and leg injuries in the crash.
He found Stuart’s vehicle was travelling towards the main entrance of the village on St Canice Avenue when she lost control and collided with the rear of a parked vehicle.
Her vehicle then swerved to the left, its wheels rubbing against the curb before accelerating towards a garden bed and colliding with a gutter, launching it into the air.
The vehicle crashed into an external wall of a unit within the aged care complex.
Webster noted that Stuart was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash, but described her as a “careful and experienced driver”.
“I am satisfied this crash occurred when Ms Stuart lost control of her vehicle,” he said.
“… it is difficult to conclude that the loss of control of the vehicle was due to inexperience, inattention or poor driving.”
“While the investigation has not confirmed a medical episode was the cause of the loss of control and even though a cardiac event has been ruled out, I consider some other medical episode to be the more likely explanation.”
