POLICE are investigating a fatal crash involving Launceston Deputy Mayor Jeremy Ball's vehicle but are yet to identify the deceased.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police were unable to positively identify the driver and sole occupant of a white Suzuki Vitara in the severe crash but confirmed it was Alderman Ball's vehicle.
The Launceston City Council is yet to issue a statement.
The driver, who police said was aged in his 40s, died on impact.
The horrific head-on collision occurred on the Bass Highway yesterday and involved a fully laden log truck.
The two vehicles collided near the turnoff to Carrick about 12.30pm.
The vehicles came to a stop down an embankment about 70 metres from the point of impact.
Investigators believe Alderman Ball's vehicle veered into the path of the truck which was travelling in the opposite direction towards Launceston.
The section of highway is a single carriageway and the crash occurred just near the site of a previous fatal accident.
The 27-year-old Mack truck driver was shaken but uninjured and was briefly spoken to by police before being taken to hospital as a precaution.
Northern Crash Investigation Service attended the scene and was carrying out examinations into the night.
"It's a significant impact and a significant damage to both vehicles," Sergeant Glenn Evans of the Deloraine Division said.
"We'll be conducting an examination of the scene looking at both vehicles to identify a cause of the crash."
Sergeant Evans said the conditions were clear.
The crash caused a five-kilometre section of highway to be closed in both directions for about six hours.
A crane was brought in and the logs had to be removed from the truck before it could be lifted on to the road.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics, firefighters and state transport inspectors, attended the scene.
The fatality brings the state's road toll to 24.
The crash was the second involving a fully laden log truck in recent months. A Newnham mother and son died in July when their car collided with a truck just south of Ross.
Any person who may have witnessed the crash or saw either vehicle on the Bass Highway before the crash are asked to contact Constable Nigel Housego at Northern Crash Investigation Services on 6336 3936 or 131444.
