Coroner releases findings into death of East Coast mum

An East Coast mum killed in a highway crash was nearly four times the alcohol limit, high and had been drinking behind the wheel when she lost control of her car, a coroner has found.

AN EAST COAST mum killed in a highway crash was nearly four times the legal alcohol limit, high on marijuana and had been drinking behind the wheel when she lost control of her car while likely trying to reach for a cigarette.

In his findings released this week, Coroner Andrew McKee said Melissa Joan Wilton posed “a significant risk” to other motorists, driving at speed, distracted and while alcohol-affected.

The 36-year-old Triabunna woman, who worked at the fish van on the Triabunna wharf, was observed on CCTV footage entering the BWS bottle shop at Sorell and purchasing a six-pack of beer on the afternoon of March 31, 2019.

The scene of the fatal crash on the Tasman Highway. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A witness reported being overtaken by Ms Wilton’s Nissan Pulsar about 5.50pm travelling north on the Tasman Highway just north of Brinktop Road, telling police she had to slow down in order for Ms Wilton to safely complete overtaking and avoid a collision.

Two other drivers reported Ms Wilton driving at speed, one estimating between 120-130km/h.

About 6.15pm, motorist Mark Dance was driving his Nissan Navara ute towing a box trailer south on the highway towards Buckland.

Ms Wilton’s vehicle drifted off the left hand side of the road into the gravel verge and she swerved from one side of the roadway to the other to try and regain control of the vehicle.

Mr Dance applied his brakes but was unable to avoid a collision.

He and other passing motorists, including an off-duty fireman, policeman and doctor, provided assistance to Ms Wilton but she was pronounced dead at the scene when ambulance crews arrived.

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Experienced crash scene investigator Senior Constable Adam Hall concluded that Ms Wilton has become distracted, most likely seeking to retrieve a cigarette from her handbag, with her vehicle veering off the road.

Coroner Andrew McKee said Sen Const. Hall had noted that Ms Wilton held an L2 learner licence.

“I also note that inspection of Ms Wilton’s vehicle after the collision identified two of the six beer cans purchased at the Sorell bottle shop had been opened. The empty cans were located within the front passenger foot well,” Mr McKee said.

“I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Ms Wilton had consumed the two cans of beer while travelling between Sorell and the scene of the collision … in addition to the alcohol she had consumed throughout the day at South Arm (RSL).”

Toxicology testing during an autopsy revealed the presence of cannabis and alcohol in Ms Wilton’s blood, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.196.

Mr McKee said Ms Wilton posed “a significant risk” to herself and others, including the couple who suffered injuries in the collision.

“I further note that this is yet another collision that exposed first responders, namely police officers and paramedics, to another fatal collision,” he said.

“This case is just one further example of the consequences that flow from an individual’s decision to drive a motor vehicle with a high blood alcohol level.”