New details have shed light on the ACT's first recorded e-scooter death, which took the life of a 19-year-old remembered by loved ones as a "dedicated family member and a loyal and gentle friend".
Laura Kelly died at Canberra Hospital after sustaining multiple injuries when her e-scooter collided with a car on Drakeford Drive on September 25, 2022.
In an ACT Coroner's Court decision published on Friday, August 7, coroner Ken Archer found there were no public safety issues arising from the fatal accident.
While Ms Kelly was not wearing a helmet at the time, Mr Archer said expert evidence found it was "unlikely" a helmet would have reduced her head injuries enough for her to survive the impact.
The inquest heard Ms Kelly was riding a Ninebot E2 KickScooter shortly after 3pm when she approached the Drakeford Drive intersection.
CCTV captured her moments earlier riding without a helmet, dressed in black, with a large bag hanging from the handlebars that had become wound around the scooter's braking mechanism.
"She may also have been using her left hand to control the bag," Mr Archer said.
"As a consequence, her ability to use the braking mechanism on the e-scooter may have been compromised to an unknown extent."
The coroner said Ms Kelly entered the intersection against a red pedestrian signal and into the path of northbound traffic travelling on a green light.
"Her reasons for entering the line of traffic are unknown," Mr Archer said. "Clearly, she did not see the Ford."
Ms Kelly collided with the driver's side of a Ford Falcon which was travelling the 80kmh speed limit.
The driver stopped immediately after the collision and, with the help of an off-duty police officer, a doctor and members of the public, provided first aid until emergency services arrived.
"The opinion of the collision analyst was that the driver of the Ford could not have avoided colliding with Laura," Mr Archer said.
"I find no blame attaches to the driver of the Ford for the collision that occurred."
A mechanical inspection found the e-scooter was in good working order before the crash and there was no evidence it had been modified.
Toxicology reports later revealed methamphetamine, amphetamine, and cannabis in Ms Kelly's system.
Mr Archer noted these substances were present at levels likely to have had "an intoxicating effect (and perhaps a very profound intoxicating effect)" that impaired her ability to control the e-scooter and judge traffic risks.
Under the ACT's road transport legislation, e-scooters are classified as personal mobility devices subject to safety rules.
Mr Archer found that while Ms Kelly breached some of these rules, neither the e-scooter itself nor the ACT's regulatory framework contributed to the collision.
"Here, Laura's manner of riding, the absence of a helmet and her level of intoxication obviously involved breaches of some of these limitations and prohibitions," he said.
He added that there was "nothing about the inherent characteristics of the e-scooter" that played a role in the crash.
The coroner said Ms Kelly was remembered as a natural leader who had recently started a new job, moved into new accommodation and loved riding her e-scooter while listening to music.
"I extend my sincere condolences to Laura's family," he said.
"Laura was a person of great capacities, and her loss was deeply felt by all who knew her."
