A mother of four who died days after being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries following a crash on the east coast lost control of her vehicle due to “excessive speed”, a coroner has determined.
Michelle Joy Menz, 58, was around 10 minutes into her journey toward her home in Scamander last year when her car veered off the road and collided with a wooden power pole.
Coroner Simon Cooper said Menz had just left St Helens around 5pm on the wet evening of January 17, 2023, with her youngest son and his girlfriend when the crash occurred.
Menz suffered multiple fractures and a collapsed lung in the crash.
She passed away in hospital two days later.
The coroner’s investigation found Menz was “very familiar with the road”, having driven it many times and found no evidence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
“Ms Menz lost control of her Hyundai Elantra sedan as she entered a curve with a 55km/h advisory sign clearly displayed,” Cooper said.
“The careful investigation by Crash Investigation Services indicates that Ms Menz entered the curve at an excessive speed which caused her to lose control of the vehicle. I am satisfied that is in fact the case.”
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Menz.”
