A coroner has been unable to determine whether a man who died in a high-speed crash on the Midland Highway intended to take his own life, finding he was heavily affected by methamphetamine and mental illness.
The 32-year-old, identified only as TP, died on January 6, 2024 at Brighton after his Toyota Hilux failed to take an offramp leading to Hove Way.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart found the man was driving at at least 121km/h as he entered the curve, where the advisory speed was 35km/h.
He made no attempt to brake or steer around the bend, instead driving straight through an Armco railing. The vehicle rolled and the man was ejected.
McTaggart found he had a high level of methamphetamine in his system at the time.
“Methamphetamine has a profound effect on thought processes, judgement and the psychomotor skills required for driving,” she said.
The man had used methamphetamine regularly and heavily since 2021, the coroner found. The drug caused ongoing psychosis, paranoia and hallucinations.
In the week before his death he barely slept and was hearing voices.
A housemate observed he was particularly upset about the voices and feared he may have had thoughts of suicide.
McTaggart found the man’s seatbelt was faulty and he may have survived had he been restrained.
She said his death “represents another life lost as a result of the terrible effects of methamphetamine addiction”.
The coroner made no formal recommendations.
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