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Incident Overview
On a Friday afternoon in May 2022, Nathan Allen Mugridge and Samuel Angus Berron decided to go to a club in Belconnen, Canberra, to play pokies and have a few drinks. The tragic events that followed led to Mugridge’s death and have since been the subject of a coronial inquest. Mugridge was unlicensed, intoxicated, and driving Berron’s poorly maintained car when the fatal crash occurred.
Details of the Fatal Crash
After consuming alcohol and drugs, Berron handed over the keys of his “high-performance vehicle” to Mugridge, despite Mugridge never having held a driver’s licence. The car was deemed unroadworthy, with issues such as insufficient tyre depths and suspension height. While driving on Kingsford-Smith Drive in Melba, Berron encouraged Mugridge to speed up, leading to the vehicle reaching speeds between 123 and 138 km/h before losing control, hitting street signs, and ultimately wrapping around a light pole.
Inquest Findings
The inquest revealed Mugridge had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.103, more than double the legal limit, and had cannabis and benzodiazepines in his system. Berron, whose licence was suspended at the time, admitted to urging Mugridge to accelerate. The coroner identified multiple factors contributing to the crash, including excessive speed, Mugridge’s inexperience and intoxication, the car’s high-performance nature, and its poor mechanical condition.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
In a separate court case, Berron pleaded guilty to interfering with a body and assault after witnesses saw him striking Mugridge’s body and yelling about the damage to his car immediately following the crash. He was fined $2,000 and given a good behaviour bond. The coroner concluded that Berron’s actions did not contribute to the crash or Mugridge’s death.
Public Safety and Final Remarks
Coroner Ken Archer found no new public safety issues but decided to publish the findings to provide a public record of road accident deaths in the ACT. He extended his condolences to Mugridge’s family