The driver of a garbage truck that struck and killed a 79-year-old grandmother as she crossed the road had his view obstructed by the vehicle's lifting mechanism.
Nationwide waste management company JJ Richards, who the driver was working for at the time, has since modified some of its fleet to improve the view of those behind the wheel.
Pamela Bernice Gee died on August 25, 2021 a day after being struck crossing a road in Burnie in northwest Tasmania on the green walk signal in the middle of the day.
She was in the city's CBD to pay bills, pick up groceries and then return home to babysit her youngest grandchild.
Eric Flight was found guilty in April of causing death by negligent driving and driving without due care and attention.
It was ruled Flight had a responsibility to ensure there were no pedestrians at the crossing before turning the corner and failed to take into account the truck's blind spot.
He was sentenced to three months' jail which was wholly suspended for a year.
In a report published on Tuesday, coroner Robert Webster said Flight had 15-20 seconds to observe Mrs Gee as he approached the intersection but didn't see her and failed to give way.
The truck was fitted with a front-mounted loader to lift and empty dumpsters.
Mr Webster said had the lifting mechanism and tynes been in the upper position, the "arms" would not have obscured Flight's view of Mrs Gee.
"Alternatively if he had lent forward in the driver's seat, prior to executing the left-hand turn ... (his) view of Mrs Gee would not have been obscured," Mr Webster said.
Mr Webster said JJ Richards investigated vehicles it had purchased for its fleet and determined the lifting mechanism on some sat below the windscreen, similar to the truck involved in the accident.
"JJ Richards has now modified all but four of those vehicles so that the lifting mechanism and its associated tynes sit above the windscreen," he said.
The four remaining vehicles, which are in Victoria, are due to be modified soon.
Mr Webster said JJ Richards designs and manufactures the majority of its heavy vehicles and all now have the lifting mechanism and associated tynes positioned above the windscreen when the vehicle is travelling.
The truck involved in the crash remains in service but has "low" usage as a spare vehicle.
Since October 2022, key intersections in the Burnie CBD, including the one where Mrs Gee was struck, have three seconds of 'walk time' before cars get a green light.
The system has since been implemented in other Tasmanian cities.
