Keely Bown sentenced after leaving teen passenger with traumatic brain injury

A young woman said “I know what I’m doing” moments before her car became airborne in a horrific high-speed crash that left a teen with life-threatening injuries.

A race car driver told her passengers she knew what was doing before a horrific crash that left her teenage passenger with a traumatic brain injury.

Keely Bown, 22, avoided jail after her car became airborne and rolled several times while she was travelling 45km/h over the speed limit.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Bown was driving her 2008 SS Holden sedan, which had a V8 motor and a six-speed manual transmission, on December 23, 2020.

Riley Leesong, 16, and 17-year-old Crystal Wastell-Stevens were passengers in the car as Bown drove out of Port Pirie in the direction of Nelshaby.

Mr Leesong and Ms Wastell-Stevens said Bown was significantly exceeding the 100km/h speed limit.

Keely Bown avoided jail after her teenage passenger was left with a traumatic brain injury from a horrific crash. Photo: Facebook

“They told you to slow down to which you replied ‘I’m a race car driver. I think I know what I’m doing’,” Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said.

“A neighbour along the road on which you were travelling heard your car accelerating aggressively through the gears.”

The court heard Bown was a race car driver, having been involved in motor racing for some time.

The court heard Bown was driving along a straight stretch when she came upon a water course dip in the road.

“You were going so fast that when you came out of the dip your car became airborne and you lost control of it,” Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said.

“The car rolled several times.”

The court heard Bown and Ms Wastell-Stevens did not suffer serious injuries.

The court heard Mr Leesong suffered life threatening injuries, including a severe traumatic brain injury, torn spleen, torn bowel and collapsed lung.

Mr Leesong was left with cognitive problems, hand tremor and a speech difficulty, with his lengthy recovery traumatic for him and for his family.

Bown, of Port Pirie West, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm by dangerous driving and causing harm by dangerous driving.

Bown told police she was travelling at less than 100 km/h and braked heavily, although the court heard there was no crime scene evidence of the brakes locking up.

Auxiliary Judge Barrett said he would sentence Bown that she was travelling at about 145 km/h into the dip and lost control because of the excessive speed.

The court heard Bown, who worked in hospital administration, said she deeply regretted her choices she made that day and it changed her life.

Bown was sentenced to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Due to Bown’s young age and no criminal history, she was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.

Bown was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and ordered to pay $818.95 compensation to Mr Leesong.