Plan to Sue Government Over West Gate Bridge Deaths

Families to Commence Proceedings Against Victorian Government Over Suicide Deaths Off the West Gate Bridge

It has been reported that three families are planning to sue the Victorian Government in relation to suicide deaths from the West Gate Bridge. The families intend to argue that the Government did not set up anti jump barriers on the bridge to prevent people from committing suicide from the Melbourne landmark.

Four year old Darcey Freeman was allegedly thrown from the bridge and killed by her father Arthur Phillip Freeman in early 2009. Freeman has been charged with murder and is awaiting trial.

A recommendation from the Victorian Coroner in 2004 was that anti jump barriers be installed to prevent jumpers. In late 2008, the Victorian Government announced that the suicide barriers would be built on the bridge. But that was allegedly too late to prevent the death of Darcy Freeman as well as at least three other people since that time.

One of the families planning to sue the government has stated that the death of their son came just a week after the death of Darcy Freeman.

It is understood that the barriers which are now in place have reduced the amount of suicides from the bridge substantially.