Lucy Caroline Jenkins sentenced for death of Neale David Williams in car crash
A man was on his way to pick up his wife from the airport when an NQ woman crashed her car, killing him, in a horrifying crash.
A North Queensland woman’s “stupidity and thoughtlessness” led her to drive under the influence of drugs and kill a man, a court has heard.
Lucy Caroline Jenkins appeared in Townsville District Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of vehicle causing death while adversely affected by intoxicating substance, after causing the death of Neale David Williams in 2023.
The court heard the devastating crash occurred after Jenkins used cocaine, and consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel and driving to Strathdickie Rd, north of Proserpine.
Witnesses recalled seeing her drive in an “erratic manner,” with her car jerking and moving very quickly.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard told the court at some point Jenkins veered off the left side of the road, and when she attempted to re-enter the left lane, she drove too far to the right and collided with Mr Williams’ vehicle.
“The defendant at the scene told those who were trying to assist her that she was drunk, she was slurring her words,” she said.
“She told those at the scene that it was the deceased’s fault, and that he was ‘a bastard’.
Mr Williams was on his way to pick up his wife from the airport when the crash occurred.
Broken beer bottles were found inside Jenkins’ car, and she later recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.143.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Mr Williams’ sister Sandra Groves told the court with a shaky voice that her brother’s passing was a “senseless, preventable” crash that left her “so angry”
“It’s difficult to put into words the pain and devastation that my family and I have endured since that day,” she said.
“How dare you kill my brother, he didn’t do anything to you.”
Ms Sheppard said Jenkins faces the risk of deportation, as she is a UK citizen.
Barrister Remy Kurz said his client understood that nothing she could do would bring back Mr Williams, and she must live with the consequences of knowing her “stupid actions” had caused his death.
“Ms Jenkins is remorseful, it was beneficial that she heard directly from the deceased’s family today,” he said.
Judge Ian Dearden said the “sad, tragic and avoidable loss of life” had broken Mr Williams’ family.
“The reality was, that you had just killed another precious human being,” he said.
“Someone who has a wife, who has siblings, who has a broader family.”
Jenkins pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of vehicle causing death while adversely affected by intoxicating substance.
She also pleaded guilty to nine summary offences, which included assault a police officer, commit public nuisance, and breach of bail.
She was sentenced to six years in prison and will be eligible for parole in February, 2026, as 17 months spent in presentence custody was declared as time already served.
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Originally published as Lucy Caroline Jenkins sentenced for death of Neale David Williams in car crash
