Elliot Joel McVicar jailed for at least two years over crash that left Sian Kennedy in coma with lifelong injuries

A drink driver who mowed down a woman putting out her mum’s bins, leaving her in an induced coma with lifelong injuries, has learned how long he will spend behind bars.

A drink driver who mowed down a woman while she wheeled her mum’s bins to the kerb, leaving her in an induced coma with lifelong injuries, has been jailed for at least two years.

Elliot Joel McVicar, 25, whose licence had been disqualified, claimed he drove to pick up a pizza in March this year because he could not afford the delivery fee.

Two women were injured when his car crossed onto the wrong side of the road and into the path of another car on Berrima Road at Sheidow Park.

The cars crashed before McVicar veered into 29-year-old Sian Kennedy, who was taking her mum’s wheelie bins to the street outside her home.

Ms Kennedy, 29, was hit as she wheeled bins to the kerb of a Sheidow Park property. Picture: Mike Burton

Elliot McVicar was driving drunk and on a disqualified licence when the crash happened. Picture: Twitter.

Sentencing McVicar in the District Court on Friday, Judge Karen Thomas said Ms Kennedy and a passenger in the other car were taken to the Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries.

The passenger, whose husband had been driving when McVicar drove into their car, suffered a fractured collarbone, and eventually required surgery to insert a plate and screw.

Ms Kennedy suffered “significant, life-threatening” injuries, including major head trauma, two broken legs, broken ribs, a broken collarbone and extensive soft-tissue injuries.

She underwent emergency surgery, spent two weeks in an induced coma and has been diagnosed with an “extremely severe” traumatic brain injury.

“Whilst further improvements are expected over the next 12-18 months, she will have some lifelong residual physical and cognitive impairments, and have to readjust her life accordingly,” Judge Thomas said.

Despite telling police at the scene he had only had one drink, he returned a blood-alcohol reading of .086 two hours after the crash.

Sian Kennedy and sister Emma arrive at the District Court before an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Sian Kennedy spent two weeks in an induced coma after the crash. Picture: Supplied

Judge Thomas said McVicar’s explanation that he could not afford to have the pizza delivered did not explain his actions because his regular expenditure on alcohol and drugs “well exceeded the delivery fee”.

She said his decision to drive was “irresponsible”, and would have lasting effects.

“This case is a tragic example of the devastating consequences of serious harm that can result from dangerous driving,” she said.

But she accepted McVicar was truly remorseful and regretted the pain and suffering he had caused the victims.

McVicar, who has two prior convictions for driving under the influence of drugs, pleaded guilty to aggravated counts of causing serious harm by dangerous driving, causing harm by dangerous driving and driving disqualified.

He was sentenced to three years, nine months behind bars, with a non-parole period of two years, one month. His licence will be disqualified for 12 years following his release from prison.

The term was backdated to March, when McVicar was taken into custody.