Warrant for drug accused

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a northern Tasmanian woman charged with causing the death of an 18-year-old Ravenswood man while drug-driving on Christmas Day in 2018.

Elizabeth Anne Quill, 36, failed to attend the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday for a hearing over the crash.

In November last year she pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Jayden John Pearce by driving negligently on Pipers River Rd, at Lower Turners Marsh, north of Launceston, on December 25, 2018.

The particulars of her alleged negligence were that she failed to keep left of the dividing line on the road, failed to keep a proper look-out, and failed to take all reasonable precautions to avoid a collision.

Ms Quinn also pleaded not guilty to driving with the drug ice present in her oral fluid at the time of the crash.

Police reported at the time of the crash that Ms Quill’s green 1994 Ford Laser collided with a green 2001 Kia Rio carrying two young men about 3.50pm.

All three occupants of the two cars were taken to the Launceston General Hospital for treatment.

Pearce, who was a passenger in the Kia, was then flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital with head and neck injuries, where he died four days later.

Ms Quill and the driver of the Kia sustained only minor injuries.

Defence lawyer April Van der Meer yesterday said she could not explain Ms Quill’s absence from court.

Magistrate Ken Stanton heard that attempts made by lawyers to contact her over the past month had been fruitless.

Magistrate Stanton yesterday issued a warrant for Ms Quill’s arrest after her failure to appear in court yesterday.

A new date will be set for her hearing once she is arrested.