A coroner has sent a strong message about the devastating impacts of drug driving.
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Investigating a head-on collision at Longford in 2019, Coroner Andrew McKee found the crash was "totally avoidable", with the driver of one of the vehicles under the influence at the time.
Lena Kathleen Reid was killed when her car crashed into a truck on Illawarra Road, leaving the other driver with significant injuries.
Releasing his findings on Wednesday, the coroner said the 27-year-old driver was not "fully aware of the position of her vehicle on the roadway" due to being under the influence of cannabis and methylamphetamine.
When she approached a bend in the road, she continued driving straight, ending up in the other lane and in front of oncoming traffic.
Crash investigator First Class Constable Nigel Housego came to the conclusion Ms Reid did not brake at any point, and the other driver had "little time to respond" when her car drove into his lane.
A toxicology report stated the "concentration of methylamphetamine determined to be in Ms Reid's blood has been reported to result in symptoms of toxicity, or fatality, in some individuals".
While Coroner Mckee did not make any formal recommendations, he made comments about the risks of getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
"The collision would not have occurred had Ms Reid not made the decision to drive a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of illicit substances," he said.
"Her ability to safely control a motor vehicle and respond appropriately in an emergency situation was compromised.
"She posed a significant risk to herself and other persons lawfully using the roadway."
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The 63-year-old truck driver from Evandale was hospitalised after the crash with a fractured pelvis, lacerations and fractures to his left wrist, along with bruising and abrasions.
Coroner Mckee said the crash had not only taken Ms Reid's life and injured the truck driver, but would have had impacted both the first responders and witnesses.
"Members of the public were exposed to the aftermath of the collision when they stopped to render assistance," he said.
"This was yet another totally avoidable collision that exposed first responders, namely police officers and paramedics, to another fatal collision.
"This case is just one further example of the consequences that flow from an individual's decision to drive a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of illicit substances."
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