Speed, drugs, no seatbelt: coroner rules on George Town woman’s highway death at Bell Bay

Eyewitnesses have recounted what they saw in a report on the single-vehicle crash that killed a woman in the state’s North last year on the Easter weekend. Here’s what they said.

The coroner reported on the death of George Town woman, Jalissa Maree Ferguson. Picture: PATRICK GEE

A George Town woman who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the East Tamar Hwy last year was driving her unroadworthy car at speed, having consumed illicit drugs, a Tasmanian coroner has found.

Jalissa Maree Ferguson, 29, died on 9 April 2023, after setting out for home from Launceston just after 6am.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Ms Ferguson travelling in the overtaking lane at a speed of 140kmh, and then almost lose control of her vehicle while overtaking another motorist up to 130kmh.

Barely one minute later, the same motorist noticed Ms Ferguson’s vehicle crashed on the side of the highway and facing the opposite direction.

After calling triple-0, the motorist noticed that Ms Ferguson was trapped under her vehicle, apparently already dead.

Coroner Olivia McTaggart found that Ms Ferguson’s vehicle had crossed over the highway’s double white lines before colliding with a concrete drain.

“Upon impact with the concrete drain, the vehicle became airborne and Ms Ferguson, who was not wearing her seatbelt, was ejected from a window,” Coroner McTaggart said.

“When the vehicle came to rest on the verge, her body became trapped under the front wheel arch.”

Post-mortem investigations revealed the deceased had methylamphetamine and cannabis in her system at the time of the crash, with the coroner saying it appeared fatigue may have also been a factor, with no evidence Ms Ferguson had slept the night prior.

“Ms Ferguson chose to drive her vehicle at speed, having consumed illicit drugs and without wearing a seatbelt,” Coroner McTaggart said.

“She placed herself at high risk of death, and that risk, sadly, eventuated.”

Coroner McTaggart said the circumstances of the fatality did not require the court to make any comments or recommendations, and conveyed her condolences to Ms Ferguson’s family and loved ones.