Inquest into the Death of Davide CANDELORO

Inquest into the Death of Davide CANDELORO

Delivered on : 20 April 2021

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Linton

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : Yes

On the basis it would be contrary to the public interest, I make an order that there be no reporting or publication of the details of any of the versions of the WA Police Emergency Driving Policy and Guidelines, including, but not limited to, any cap on the speed at which police officers are authorised to drive.

Summary : On 3 July 2019 Davide Candeloro died from injuries he suffered when the motorcycle he was riding left the roadway on Orestes Street in San Remo and crashed at speed into a wire fence in the sand dunes.  Not long prior to his death police officers had attempted to stop Mr Candeloro but he failed to do so and accelerated away from the police.

The two police officers not long were travelling in their police vehicle north along Mandurah Road in Meadow Spring and as they approached the intersection of Meadow Springs Drive and Mandurah Road they saw Mr Candeloro riding a black Harley Davidson motorcycle.  The two police officers both noted that the motorcycle appeared to accelerate quickly as it headed away from them in a north direction.  The two police officer decided to follow the motorcycle to check the speed and possibly stop and talk to the rider if he continued to ride at speed.

Before the police officers could catch up to the motorcycle, the motorcycle indicated a left turn and then turned left onto Karinga Road in Madora Bay.  Police continued to follow the motorcycle, although they were not close enough to it to obtain the registration number from the licence plate.  The maximum speed limit of the road is 50 km/h and the two police officers estimated the motorcycle was travelling at a speed of 70 -80 km/hr.  The police continued to follow the motorcycle without activating their lights or siren.

The police car followed the motorcycle through a roundabout and as they exited they activated the police car’s emergency lights and siren in an effort to get Mr Candeloro to stop so they could check his licence and speak to him about the manner of his driving.  Police believe Mr Candeloro immediately accelerated and assumed he did so upon seeing the blue lights.  The motorcycle was seen to brake heavily as it turned left onto Lord Hobart Drive.  The motorcycle looked as if it lost traction to its back wheel and slid slightly as it made the turn.  It also went onto the incorrect side of Lord Hobart Drive before it travelled west.

Police decided it was too dangerous to continue and disengaged.  The police extinguished the lights and siren as they turned left onto Lord Hobart Drive and immediately decreased their speed.  Police last observed the motorcycle heading west on Lord Hobart Drive before braking and making a left turn onto Abeona Parade to travel south.  There was no sign of the motorcycle when they turned onto Abeona Parade.  They continued to drive south along the beachfront as the road changed into Orestes Street.

Police resumed their normal patrol when they were alerted to another vehicle which appeared to indicate the registered owner of that vehicle had a suspended driver’s licence.  They turned the police car around and activated the emergency lights so they could pull over and speak to the driver.  The driver of that car executed a u-turn, near the intersection of Jannali Way and began driving south.  The police car followed and the owner of the vehicle pulled over and the police car pulled up behind it.

It was at this time police saw a red taillight in the bush directly opposite the police car, on the other side of the road.  Police could see a group of people in the bushland moving around.  They have then attended to investigate and discovered Mr Candeloro.  They have rendered assistance and St John Ambulance have attended.  Despite all attempts, Mr Candeloro died from his injuries.

The Deputy State Coroner concluded the police officers did not contribute to or cause Mr Candeloro’s death.  The Deputy State Coroner found on all the evidence available that death arose by way of accident.

Catch Words : Motorcycle Failure to Stop : CCTV : AVL Data : Methamphetamine : Accident

Last updated: 27-May-2021

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