Tasmania Police said they believed Cr Jarvis had suffered a medical condition before the single-vehicle crash on Wednesday afternoon.

North-East Inspector Darren Hopkins said there was nothing at the scene to indicate that Cr Jarvis had died as a result of the collision, which occurred on Bridport Road at Jetsonville.

Cr Jarvis had served as mayor of Dorset Council since 2009, and was re-elected to the position unopposed in 2014.

He was elected president of the Local Government Association of Tasmania in October last year.

Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said he was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Cr Jarvis’ death.

‘‘My thoughts are with Barry’s family, his workmates and the community, which he was a champion for. He will be sorely missed,’’ Mr Gutwein said.

‘‘He will be missed in local government circles. He provided great input and what has occurred will be a shock to everyone.’’

Cr Jarvis had previously worked in the mining and construction industries, and owned a retail business with outlets at Scottsdale and George Town.

He ran on the Liberal ticket for Bass in the 2014 state election.

Former Local Government Association of Tasmania president Barry Easther said he had been shocked by the news.

‘‘I worked with him over a number of years and saw him as somebody who was really passionate about local government,’’ he said.

‘‘The role that he played as mayor of Dorset he did that very well – the community of Dorset benefited from his leadership.

‘‘I am certainly thinking of his friends and family at this time.’’

Cr Jarvis was elected to Dorset Council in 2007. He had been a representative of LGAT’s General Management Committee since 2011, a spokesman for the Regional Council Group since 2012, and vice-president of the National Timber Councils Association since 2012.

The investigation into Cr Jarvis’ death is continuing. Scottsdale police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Source: The Examiner