Qld: Fraser Island 4WD joint inquest begins

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2010
Qld: Fraser Island 4WD joint inquest begins

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - A joint inquest into the deaths of three international tourists
in two separate four-wheel drive crashes on Fraser Island will begin on Monday.

Counsel assisting the coroner Peter Johns in January requested the two inquests be
joined as they would be focusing on the same issues.

The joint inquest will explore the reasons why a Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carrier rolled
on the eastern beach of Fraser Island on April 18 last year, killing 26-year-old Concetta
Dell'Angelo from Italy, and 22-year-old Ian Davy from Skipton in the UK.

It will also look into the death of 25-year-old Japanese tourist Takeshi Sakai, who
died on December 13 last year, when his hired four-wheel drive rolled on the same beach
just 10km from the other crash site.

Both inquests were opened as a matter of urgency in the weeks following each crash
so the court could hear evidence from the drivers, who have each since returned to their
respective countries of residency.

Other passengers in the cars will be called during the inquest in the hope they could
shed light on the events leading up to the accidents.

The joint inquest will also focus on assessing the adequacy of regulations, training
and qualifications of drivers of hire vehicles on the World Heritage-listed island.

It will also explore whether certain four-wheel drive models should be restricted.

The inquest, which will be presided over by Queensland's state coroner Michael Barnes,
is expected to run for one week.

AAP djb/rs

KEYWORD: FRASER

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.