A senior Royal Hobart Hospital doctor has died in a car crash at Pontville earlier this month. Dr Artyom Avetisyan, a 42-year-old cardiothoracic surgery registrar, was identified by media outlet Pulse Tasmania as the man who died in the single-car crash on the night of Friday, 12 June.
Tasmania Police said emergency services were called to the Midland Highway near the Pontville roundabout just before 10:40 pm, as reported by Pulse Tasmania. According to the report, police initial inquiries indicated the blue Mercedes station wagon Dr Avetisyan was driving “left the road and rolled”. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
It is believed Dr Avetisyan was driving from Launceston to Hobart after finishing a shift at the Launceston General Hospital.
Colleagues at the Royal Hobart Hospital remembered Dr Avetisyan as a well-respected surgeon. He had worked for the Tasmanian Department of Health for three years, including at the Mersey Community Hospital.
Following the incident, ABC News reported that doctors were calling for the Department of Health to review its fatigue management policies.
The Department of Health extended its condolences to Dr Avetisyan’s family, friends, and colleagues, and stated it would assist the Coroner’s Office, Pulse Tasmania reported.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff described the death as a “tragic event” and said his “heart goes out to his family and that of all his colleagues who are, quite rightly, devastated by this event,” according to the Pulse Tasmania report. Mr Rockliff noted that a coronial investigation process would follow.
Police investigations into the crash are continuing.