'Sliding doors': The choices that could have saved a young man's life

Darcy Waud, a 20-year-old boilermaker with a penchant for music, lost his life last April in a tragic accident on a country road in northern Tasmania. Darcy, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car when it collided with cattle and rolled over. Although the driver was intoxicated, the Director of Public Prosecutions found that his drinking did not contribute to the crash.

The incident has left Darcy's mother, Natasha, searching for answers, as no one has been held accountable for the series of "sliding doors" moments that preceded her son's death. The driver, who used a smartwatch to call emergency services, pleaded guilty to various charges including drink driving and driving without due care. However, the Department of Public Prosecutions found his intoxication to be irrelevant to the collision.

Natasha Waud has sought clarification on the cattle owner's duty of care, but has not received a response. She has called for accountability and meaningful change in the culture surrounding drinking and driving. The Northern Tasmanian Football Association has expressed sympathy but has not responded to her inquiries about responsible service of alcohol.