Concern raised over Transpacific crash probe
SARTA wants coronial inquiry made a State Government priority
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Steve Shearer wants inquiry delay avoided
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The South Australian transport industry wants the investigation of last week’s double fatal truck crash to happen sooner rather than later as it fears for the safety of drivers.
The South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) believes the inquiry needs to be done properly but soon, saying a coronial inquest could force further action for safety on the South Eastern Freeway, such as the construction of a third arrester bed.
SARTA executive director Steve Shearer is calling on the South Australian Government to make the coronial inquiry a priority.
"What normally happens after a fatality is that it always takes a while because of police investigations but what we’re saying is that this is so important – we don’t want to see a two-year delay before the coroner does this inquiry," Shearer says.
"We believe it’s quite likely the coroner will make a call for government action and that may well include direct recommendations that we would hope is recommended by the coroner that a third arrester bed has to be investigated more thoroughly.
"The reason we hope that happens is that we suspect the government will not do anything about the arrester bed otherwise but if the coroner pushes it really hard the government may be forced to," he adds.
"Our primary interest is to save lives. The coroner’s inquiry could be critical in forcing action that can do that."
The Transport Workers Union in the state has also voiced concern at the prospect of any delay.
A Transpacific truck lost control last week, killing two people and injuring a driver.
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