Coroner finds death of SA woman from falling tree branch was preventable

A coroner's inquest has found that the death of a 59-year-old school teacher, Judith Anne Ditter, who was killed by a falling tree branch on an Adelaide Hills road, could have been prevented. Mrs Ditter died in November 2020 when she, her daughter and two other passengers were travelling along Mount Barker Road in Stirling, and a heavy branch from a property fell on the moving vehicle.

Mrs Ditter's daughter also sustained serious injuries in the incident. Acting Deputy State Coroner, Judge Ian White, handed down his findings, stating that he was "satisfied" that "different actions" could have prevented the "limb failure which took Mrs Ditter's life".

Tree Assessment and Defects

An arborist who assessed the tree after Mrs Ditter's death found defects, including a large branch that fell on her car. The arborist said that if he had assessed the tree the day before it fell, there would have been indicators that it presented a risk, including "the sounds of an extensive hollow, bark patterns and discolouration".

Council Opportunities to Prevent the Incident

Judge White said opportunities arose in 2010 and 2012 to prevent the limb failure when the Adelaide Hills Council was assessing development proposals on the property where the relevant tree was located. "At those times, the council could have required the applicants to obtain arborists' assessments in relation to all regulated and significant trees, especially when the proposed works were going to be conducted in the immediate vicinity of those trees," he said.

"If that were to have been required, I am satisfied that the defect would have been found and that remedial action would have prevented the eventual limb failure. That is, the limb would have been removed prior to it falling naturally."

Recommendations and Response

Judge White made a total of seven recommendations — four of which were directed to the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA), two to the Minister for Planning and one to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. He recommended councils employ arborists in their planning department to ensure consideration is given to "whether proposed developments might create safety issues with nearby significant trees".

A spokesperson for LGA South Australia said they will "carefully" consider the recommendations before consulting with member councils. A state government spokesperson said they had received the report and "will take time to consider the recommendations and will respond in due course".

Tribute to the Victim

At the conclusion of his findings, Judge White extended his condolences to Mrs Ditter's family. "Mrs Ditter's death was sudden, shocking and involved terribly unfortunate timing," he said. "There was nothing that Mrs Ditter could have done herself to predict or prevent it."