A cardiothoracic surgery registrar has been identified as the man who died in a single-car crash on the Midland Highway at Pontville earlier this month.
Artyom Avetisyan, 42, was described as well-respected by colleagues at the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he worked as a registrar.
Avetisyan had worked with the Tasmanian Department of Health for three years, including at the Mersey Community Hospital in Devonport as a medical officer and at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
He previously worked in Sydney in the medical field before emigrating from his birth country of Armenia.
It is believed Avetisyan was travelling back to Hobart from Launceston after completing a shift at Launceston General Hospital.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene on the Midland Highway near the Pontville roundabout shortly before 10:40pm on Friday June 12.
Police said initial inquiries indicated Avetisyan was travelling south in a blue Mercedes station wagon when it “left the road and rolled”.
No other vehicles were involved.
The highway was closed for several hours while scene examinations were conducted and police are continuing to investigate.
The Department of Health has extended its condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Avetisyan.
The department said it would provide “assistance to the Coroner’s Office throughout this process as required”.
In response to the news, Premier Jeremy Rockliff today said his “heart goes out to his family and that of all his colleagues who are, quite rightly, devastated by this event”.
“A tragic event.”
“There will be a process to work through with the coroner’s investigation, and we’ll await that outcome.”.
