Drug trafficker Jennifer Joan Turner jailed for Marlborough fatal crash

A ‘selfish’ Sunshine Coast woman crossed double lines at more than 160km/h causing a head-on collision between a Ford Ranger and an Australia Post truck which rolled and burst into flames, killing the Gold Coast driver, a court has heard.

A “selfish, irresponsible” woman drove a “particularly perilous, hazardous and entirely unsafe” way down the Bruce Highway, causing a head-on collision between a Ford Ranger and an Australia Post truck hauling two trailers of mail, a court has heard.

Sunshine Coast convicted drug trafficker Jennifer Joan Turner, 41, had lethal levels of methamphetamines when she crashed head-on into the prime mover driven by Gold Coast-based Linehaul driver Shane Morse, 62, on the Church Hill Creek Bridge 20km north of Marlborough at about 4.30am on June 21, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson told Rockhampton District Court on December 1, 2023, that Turner was driving a Ford Ranger southbound on the Bruce Highway after leaving Dolphins Head near Mackay at about 2.30am.

Gold Coast man Shane Morse, 62, was driving an Australia Post truck when he was killed in a head-on collision on the Bruce Highway near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, on June 21, 2022. The driver of the other vehicle, Jennifer Joan Turner, was sentenced to 10-years prison on December 1, 2023, in Rockhampton District Court.

She said the Ranger had been hired from the Sunshine Coast on June 20.

Ms Wilson said a sample of Turner’s blood was taken 4.5 hours after the crash and she also had a leg brace on while driving from a previous knee injury.

She said the Ranger’s GPS showed Turner’s “deliberately reckless” driving, which included speeds between 150-176km/hr 69 times in 73 minutes leading up to the crash.

The mother-of-three’s speed at the time of the collision, when she crossed double white lines into Mr Morse’s lane, was 164km/hr.

Ms Wilson said the truck veered into a large tree off the road causing the two trailers to detach and roll over.

“The truck and trailer caught fire and they were engulfed in flames,” Ms Wilson said.

The court heard Mr Morse’s body was later found by a colleague outside of the truck, partially burned.

He died from head and heart injuries.

The Ranger stopped in the middle of the road and was hit by another truck after the occupants exited.

The court heard the driver of that truck was unable to avoid the second collision.

Ms Wilson said Turner gave inconsistent statements to witnesses and police, including claiming she had smoked meth the night before and had six to seven hours sleep before driving.

Sunshine Coast mother of three Jennifer Joan Turner had lethal levels of meth in her system when she drove head on into an Australia Post truck, driven by Gold Coast man Shane Morse, at 164km/hr on the Bruce Highway near Marlborough on June 21, 2022. She received a 10-year prison term for killing Mr Morse in the crash.

Turner, who was convicted of two counts of trafficking drugs in Brisbane Supreme Court in July 2017, was on parole at the time for possessing a commercial quantity of drugs.

Her traffic record contained 16 speeding offences and two drug driving convictions.

Judge Jeff Clarke said Turner’s offending history showed she hadn’t been a responsible driver for the past 20 years.

He said her leg brace alone would have “severely hampered her ability to safely control the car” and her 20-year drug using experience meant she was “acutely aware” of the impact meth.

“This was a selfish, irresponsible, horrible thing to do,” Judge Clarke said.

“You presented a real danger that was particularly perilous, hazardous and entirely unsafe.”

Turner pleaded guilty to one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while intoxicated by meth and excessively speeding, drug driving and contravening police direction.

She was sentenced to 10 years prison, with three days of the 524 days served in presentence custody declared as time served and a serious violent offence declaration was made.

Turner must serve eight years before parole eligibility.