Coroner urges tougher fire safety rules for Australian off-road racing after deadly crash

During the September 4, 2022 Desert Enduro Race near Rainbow, a modified Can-Am Maverick X3 buggy driven by Gerald Hoekstra collided with a tree, rolled onto its side and was quickly consumed by flames, killing Hoekstra and passenger Ede Taric. Coroner Ingrid Giles determined that both men survived the impact but perished when the fire engulfed the vehicle, noting that local Country Fire Authority crews arrived only after 12-13 minutes.

The investigation identified the catalytic converter igniting spilled petrol and the absence of a reflux valve on a protruding fuel tank as key factors. While Motorsport Australia had required hand-held extinguishers, Giles deemed them inadequate and advocated for built-in plumbed-in systems. She also urged mandatory testing to ensure competitors can exit their vehicles within ten seconds and called for updated paddock-firefighting guidelines, recommending implementation before the end of the 2026 season.