A decaying 90-year-old gum tree that dropped a branch and killed a motorist was unstable and headed for removal, an inquest has been told.
Arborist Kym Knight said when he inspected the tree several days after the incident last year, his first thought was that the gum was unstable.
The tree had poor branch structure, reduced vitality and evidence of longstanding attack from pests and disease, among other problems.
"In the end removal of this treewas going to be inevitable," Mr Knight said on Friday.
"This tree was clearly at risk of further failure."
South Australian coroner Mark Johns is investigating the death of Rebecca Jolly, 20, after the 16-metre gum dropped a seven-metre limb that crushed the roof of her car in January last year.
The branch rolled off, causing her to veer across the road where she crashed into a fence and two parked cars.
Ms Jolly suffered serious head and back injuries and died in hospital two days later.
Earlier this week counsel assisting the coroner, Amanda Taylor, told the inquest the tree had been the subject of a number of complaints to Burnside Council, in Adelaide's east, dating back to 1998.
Several residents had requested inspections because of safety fears, and a report commissioned by the council had recommended pruning, Ms Taylor said.
The grey box gum had dropped a limb six months before Ms Jolly's death, prompting another inspection and pruning by the council.
But the council deemed no further action was necessary.
After Ms Jolly's death, most of the gum's branches were removed, leaving an eight-metre trunk.
The inquest was continuing.
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