Coroner's Finding: Musicka, Roslyn Mary

MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA

CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 I, Olivia McTaggart, Coroner, having investigated the death of Roslyn Mary Musicka Find, pursuant to Section 28(1) of the Coroners Act 1995, that a) The identity of the deceased is Roslyn Mary Musicka, date of birth 19 March 1962.

b) Mrs Musicka was 62 years of age, was a retired cleaner and lived with her husband, Robert Frederick Musicka, in Pyengana. Mr and Mrs Musicka have three adult children together. Mrs Musicka had held a drivers licence for 45 years and had no traffic convictions. She had been diagnosed with various medical conditions, including osteoarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis and type II diabetes. She was prescribed medications for these conditions and was medically cleared to drive.

At about 3.30pm on Tuesday 21 May 2024, Mrs Musicka was driving her Holden Astra station wagon (“the Astra”) at 59 km/h in a northerly direction on the Tasman Highway at Beauty Bay approaching St Helens. Her husband was a front seat passenger, and both were wearing their seat belts. At that time and place, the Astra crossed over the double continuous white lines of the dual lane highway and went onto the incorrect side of the roadway. It collided with a Ford Territory station wagon being driven lawfully in the opposite direction. A second collision then occurred when the Astra rotated (after the first impact) back into the path of a north-bound Toyota Landcruiser with trailer which had been travelling lawfully behind the Astra.

The driver’s door area of the Astra, where Mrs Musicka was seated, collided with the oncoming Landcruiser. The driver of the Landcruiser rendered immediate first-aid assistance to Mrs Musicka until the arrival of emergency services. Both Mr and Mrs Musicka were conveyed to the St Helens hospital by ambulance after the crashes. The driver of the Ford was

also taken to the same hospital. Mrs Musicka died a short time after arrival.

Mr Musicka and the driver of the Ford suffered only minor injuries. The driver of the Landcruiser was not injured.

I am satisfied that a very thorough investigation by a qualified and experienced crash investigator has taken place, including analysis of the scene and detailed witness statements. The evidence allows me to find that just before entering a blind left-hand curve on the highway, Mrs Musicka was affected by sun glare and she put up left hand to her face shielding her eyes from the sun. In this process, the Astra crossed over the double white centrelines and into the path of the southbound forward. I am further satisfied that both the driver of the Ford and the driver of the Landcruiser made all manoeuvres possible to avoid a collision but were unable to do so. Both drivers were travelling at or below the posted 60 km/h speed limit. I am satisfied that drugs, alcohol, mobile phone use, vehicle defects or road conditions did not play a part in either crash. I am satisfied that both crashes were caused by Mrs Musicka’s loss of control of the Astra. Her loss of control was primarily due to sun glare restricting her vision of the roadway. I cannot exclude that she may also have experienced some fatigue.

c) Mrs Musicka’s cause of death was multiple (head, chest and limb) injuries.

From the autopsy evidence, I find that cardiovascular disease contributed to her inability to recover from her injuries.

d) Mrs Musicka died on 21 May 2024 at St Helens, Tasmania.

In making the above findings, I have had regard to the evidence gained in the investigation into Mrs Musicka’s death. The evidence includes:

• The Police Report of Death for the Coroner;

• Affidavits confirming identity;

• Opinion of the forensic pathologist regarding cause of death;

• Toxicology Reports from Forensic Science Service Tasmania;

• Medical Reports from Tasmania Health Service and Ochre Health;

• Affidavit of Robert Musicka, husband of Mrs Musicka;

• Police Interviews of the other drivers involved in the crashes;

• Affidavit of an eyewitness at the scene;

• Affidavit of four attending and investigating police officers, including photographs and body worn camera footage;

• Report and analysis from crash investigator, Senior Constable Michal Rybka;

• Transport Inspection Reports for each vehicle involved in the crashes;

• Police records, mobile phone records, weather observations and crash history report from the Department of State Growth.

Comments and Recommendations I extend my appreciation to investigating officer Senior Constable Michal Rybka for his high-quality investigation and report.

The circumstances of death are not such as to require me to make any comments or recommendations pursuant to Section 28 of the Coroners Act 1995.

I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mrs Musicka.

Dated: 25 March 2026 at Hobart, in the State of Tasmania.

Olivia McTaggart Coroner