Coroner hands down findings into death of ‘talented young woman’ and champion boxer Danni Clayton

A coroner has handed down her findings into the tragic road death of talented young Tasmanian boxing star, Danielle Clayton.

Hadspen woman Danni Clayton, 22, died in a single-vehicle accident on the Midland Hwy Southern Outlet near Launceston. Picture: Facebook

A coroner has handed down her findings into the tragic road death of talented young Tasmanian boxing star, Danielle Clayton.

In her findings published on Tuesday, Coroner Olivia McTaggart said the 22-year-old was driving recklessly before she lost control of her vehicle on the Midland Highway at South Launceston on July 27 last year.

Ms McTaggart said Ms Clayton was not wearing her seatbelt, was driving at “very high speed”, and was affected by “numerous illicit and prescription drugs” including methamphetamine and cannabis, which “significantly impaired her driving ability”.

Her cause of death was multiple blunt trauma injuries.

Hadspen woman Danni Clayton, 22, who lost her life in an accident on Midland Hwy Southern Outlet on the evening of July 27, 2022. Picture: Facebook

The coroner said Ms Clayton may have also been distracted by using her mobile phone to stream music, although could not make a definite finding on this.

Ms McTaggart said the Hadspen woman had represented Australia in boxing, although had not boxed in the 12 months prior to her death due to a back injury.

She said Ms Clayton had just started working as a receptionist for a firm of Launceston solicitors.

Four months before Ms Clayton’s fatal crash, Ms McTaggart said she had crossed the centre line of the road to collide head-on with another vehicle, and was due to be charged with minor drug and traffic offences as a result of causing the crash.

On the night of her fatal crash, Ms Clayton was driving her father’s Holden Commodore near the Westbury Overpass when she lost control at 174km/h.

Her car entered a sideslip and travelled to another lane, narrowly missing another car before leaving the roadway and crashing into the rock face at the side of the highway.

Not wearing her seatbelt, she was thrown inside the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.

“The only cause of Ms Clayton’s death was her own reckless driving at almost twice the speed limit for the road, impaired by her ingestion of drugs,” Ms McTaggart said.

“Despite prominent public campaigns aimed at preventing crashes due to speeding and drugs, such needless deaths continue to occur.

“The death of Ms Clayton represents the loss of life of a talented young woman and highlights the lasting impact on her family, loved ones and community.”

Ms Clayton had a decorated boxing career, winning titles at the Australian Boxing Championships and the Women’s Youth World Championships.

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