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Dashcam of horrific crash shows how concentration lapse can be fatal

Horrific dashcam video of a crash that claimed the life of a South Australian grandfather shows how quickly a lapse in concentration can turn fatal.

On a sunny January afternoon Ross Anderson and his wife Tina were winding their way towards Goolwa on what would be their last drive together.

Dashcam shows driver concentration lapse killed South Australian grandfather Ross Anderson.
South Australian grandfather Ross Anderson was killed when he was driving with wife Tina towards Goolwa on January 8. Source: 7 News

A court has found the German tourist driving a car in an oncoming lane had a momentary lapse in concentration and the two vehicles collided head on.

A split second was all it took before the Andersons’ car rolled six times, instantly killing the 62-year-old Victor Harbor grandfather.

Dashcam shows driver concentration lapse killed South Australian grandfather Ross Anderson.
A German tourist driving a car in an oncoming lane had a momentary lapse in concentration and the two vehicles collided. Source: 7 News

At the time Mr Anderson’s heartbroken family and friends called for greater testing for foreign drivers.

“They can just come here and pay their money or whatever and then get out and drive with no training,” his wife Tina told 7 News.

However the court found German national Paul Welby’s fatal mistake had nothing to do with being a tourist.

Dashcam shows driver concentration lapse killed South Australian grandfather Ross Anderson.
A split second was all it took before the Andersons’ car rolled six times, instantly killing the 62-year-old Victor Harbor grandfather. Source: 7 News

He was handed a suspended sentence after the judge took into account his more than 2 million kilometres of accident-free driving.

Speed, alcohol, fatigue or mobile phone use didn’t play a part in the crash – it was deemed simply human error.

Road experts say the finding is a tragic reminder for anyone getting behind the wheel.