Death of South Australian primary school teacher killed by fallen tree may have been preventable

A homeowner was warned about a large tree on her property that fell and killed a South Australian primary school teacher while she was driving her daughter home on Mount Baker Rd, an inquest has heard.

The South Australian coroner has heard the death of Judith Ditter in November 2020 was a result of “terrible timing” but may have been preventable.

Ditter was driving with her 26-year-old daughter when a massive branch of the eastern cottonwood tree fell onto their car.

The tree was 25m high with a spread of 20m.

Ditter died at the scene, while her daughter suffered serious injuries.

Counsel assisting the coroner Martin Kirby told the court the tree was damaged and weak from SA Power Networks and SA Water construction work conducted near it in the years before the fatal accident.

Kirby said his submissions to the court would argue Ditter’s death could have been prevented.

“(There were) a number of opportunities for the tree to be inspected … the damage and weaknesses would have been identified and the tree made safe,” Kirby said.

“There was a systematic failure to properly monitor and assess the tree.”

The tree was located on Kerrie Haynes’ property which she purchased 11 months before the fatality.

She told the court she contacted an arborist to look at the tree some time after she bought the home.

The arborist told Haynes it needed significant pruning within 12 months to 18 months, but that would require council approval because the tree was classed “significant” and the road would need to be blocked for the work.

Haynes has since had the eastern cottonwood tree removed.

During the inquest, the court will hear from two arborists, one who examined the tree before it fell and one who was called to the scene after the incident to prepare reports for police.

It will also hear testimonies from SA Power Networks, SA Water and the Adelaide Hills Council.

The inquest continues.

— With Deanna Williams