Inquest into the Death of Bailey Bryan BURNS
Delivered on: 4 December 2025
Delivered at: Perth
Finding of: Coroner Nelson
Recommendation:
- The Western Australia Police Force give priority to securing funding to enable the installation of ‘dash cam’ technology in all police vehicles that may be used for emergency driving.
Orders/Rules: N/A
Suppression Order:
- On the basis it would be contrary to the public interest, there be no reporting or publication of the details of, or discussion surrounding, operational aspects of WA Police urgent duty/emergency driving policies and procedures, including any cap on the speed at which police officers are authorised to drive.
Summary:
In the early morning of 7 September 2024, Bailey Bryan Burns was driving a Holden Statesman sedan eastbound on Canning Highway in Bicton at high speed, when he was observed by on-duty police officers who were travelling westbound. The police officers turned their vehicle, activated the emergency lights and sirens, and drove eastbound in order to intercept Bailey’s vehicle.
At about 4.40am, after negotiating a slight right hand bend on Canning Highway near the intersection with Preston Point Road, Bailey’s vehicle entered a yaw, slid into the central median strip and struck a tree. Bailey was ejected from the vehicle, and suffered fatal injuries. The forensic pathologist formed the opinion that Bailey died from multiple injuries.
The coroner held a mandatory inquest, accepting the cause of death identified by the forensic pathologist, and determining the manner of Bailey’s death as an accident.
The coroner also determined that the driving by the police officers involved was consistent with WA Police Force policies, and that no action by the police officers caused or contributed to Bailey’s death.
The coroner made a recommendation concerning prioritisation of the installation of dash cam technology in all police vehicles capable of being used in emergency driving.
Catch Words: Police emergency driving : Intercept driving : Dash cam technology : Accident.
Last updated: 9 March 2026