Woman jailed over Brisbane crash which killed elderly ‘loyal friend’

A woman has been jailed for killing a beloved grandmother, who she considered to be a “second mother” to her, after a devastating crash in Brisbane’s north. The victim’s family had asked for leniency.

Judge Vicki Loury said Barbara Gordon’s “significantly distracted” driving had caused the death of a “much loved member of the community” and sentenced her to two years imprisonment, suspended after she serves three months in actual custody. Picture: Dan Peled

A Brisbane woman has been jailed for killing a beloved grandmother, who she had considered to be a “second mother” to her, after running a red light at a major northside intersection.

Barbara Lee Gordon, 66, faced Brisbane District Court on Tuesday over the devastating Boondall crash that killed 91-year-old Irene Holdway on April 6, 2024.

Gordon will spend three months in actual custody after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death – despite Ms Holdway’s family requesting leniency for their loved one’s “most consistent and loyal friend”.

The court heard the two women had been driving home together in Gordon’s white Toyota Scarlet hatchback after grocery shopping on the morning of April 6.

Crown prosecutor Jennifer O’Brien said Gordon had attempted to turn onto Sandgate Road from Roghan Road just after 11.20am, but failed to stop at the red light and collided with a “steady stream of traffic”.

The light had already been red for 47 seconds prior to Gordon driving through, and eight cars were already stopped in the left and right turning lanes, Ms O’Brien said.

The court heard Gordon had thought she was in the left slip lane but instead drove through the middle lane, between the stopped cars, and collided with a Ford Ranger and Toyota Hiace that had been travelling along Sandgate Road.

Ms Holdway died five days later from neck and chest injuries sustained in the collision.

The other drivers were uninjured, but Gordon suffered a fractured spine.

Judge Vicki Loury said Gordon’s “significantly distracted” driving had caused the death of a “much loved member of the community”.

She said Ms Holdway’s granddaughter had described Gordon as Ms Holdway’s “most consistent and loyal friend”.

“(Ms Holdway’s) two sons and her granddaughter have expressed their sorrow in her passing, but have also expressed their appreciation for all you did for Ms Holdway,” she said.

“ … Each of them have asked for leniency in determining the appropriate sentence.”

Ms O’Brien labelled the incident a “serious error of judgement over a short period of time with a catastrophic outcome”.

She said there was no suggestion Gordon had been speeding or affected by alcohol or drugs.

The court heard Gordon had no criminal or traffic history, and had worked in the electricity industry before retiring and receiving support from a disability pension.

Judge Loury said she had met Ms Holdway while playing lawn bowls, and Ms Holdway had become “like a second mother” to her.

Gordon had not driven since the incident and “never intends to get behind the wheel again”, the court was told.

“You will no doubt carry with you forevermore the guilt associated with your having killed your good friend,” Judge Loury told Gordon.

“For a woman who has been an outstanding member of the community for all of her life, I’m sure that that has been and will be a heavy burden to bear.”

Gordon broke into tears as she was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended after she serves three months in actual custody.

Her licence was suspended for two years.

Originally published as Woman jailed over Brisbane crash which killed elderly ‘loyal friend’