Woman in coma after quad bike crash

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A New Zealand woman is in an induced coma in a Melbourne hospital after rolling a quad bike.

Jess Bluett, 21, moved to Tasmania from Whakatane with her Rotorua partner Nicholas McCleland about a year ago. On Thursday the quad bike she was driving rolled and she suffered serious head and internal injuries.

Miss Bluett's uncle, Jason Bluett, said Miss Bluett's condition was "developing".

"She is in an induced coma at the moment and that is to help with the healing process," he said.

"Once she is awake, the doctors will be able to figure out if there is any serious damage."

The main concerns were her brain and her internal injuries.

"We are just taking each day as it comes."

Mr Bluett said Miss Bluett's Whakatane-based mother and grandmother had flown to Australia to be with her in hospital.

It was only thanks to Facebook that Miss Bluett's New Zealand-based family heard about the incident.

"We were messaged on Facebook the day it happened; it has been great to keep everyone in touch."

News of the incident came as a shock to the family. "They had moved there about a year ago. Her partner is a farmer and when he was offered work there they moved," Mr Bluett said.

"They were doing really well over there."

Mr Bluett said the family were planning a holiday together in Melbourne.

"Myself, Jess' mum and Jess' sister were flying to Melbourne on Thursday and Jess was going to fly up to Melbourne to meet us. It's just odd timing."

According to Tasmania police, Miss Bluett was riding an unregistered 2012 model Honda Foreman 500cc ATV (all terrain vehicle).

Constable Adam Lloyd of Western District Crash Investigation said she lost control and rolled the vehicle. Miss Bluett was not wearing a helmet.

Mr Lloyd said that while police were at the crash scene another rider on a quad bike was spotted also not wearing a helmet and was dealt with by police.

"This was a tragic event that may have been mitigated by the ATV rider wearing a helmet. It is timely to remind users of ATVs, particularly in farming and rural environments, that there is a requirement to have Recreational Vehicle Registration for ATVs that are going to be used on public streets," he said.

"From a safety perspective, riders of ATVs should wear helmets at all times and this is reiterated on the rider instruction stickers that are clearly visible on all modern ATV's. An ATV being operated on a public street or road-related area without being registered or without the rider wearing a helmet, is an offence and the rider can face prosecution."