A Queensland woman has been charged with fraud after allegedly claiming Sea World chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, who died in a fatal mid-air collision, was the driver of her vehicle in an attempt to avoid a traffic infringement.
Mr Jenkinson died on the Gold Coast Broadwater on January 2 when the helicopter he was flying collided with another helicopter in mid-air.
Police sources told the ABC the offending allegedly involved a woman who received a traffic infringement on December 15 last year.
Police confirmed a 33-year-old Park Ridge woman was issued with a Notice to Appear in relation to two fraud offences that allegedly occurred in February.
When the woman received the ticket, she allegedly completed the statutory declaration information and nominated Mr Jenkinson as the driver of her vehicle.
Police will allege she found Mr Jenkinson's full name and date of birth in an obituary notice following his death.
The woman then allegedly sent the ticket back to the Department of Transport and Main Roads traffic camera office in Brisbane, which automatically generated a ticket in Mr Jenkinson’s name.
The infringement was sent to his partner, who raised the matter with the traffic office and police on February 13.
The fraud charge was the result of an ensuing investigation.
The woman is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 6.