Michelle Kendy Bubner was high on methylamphetamine when she crashed into a van, killing two brothers
A driver high on meth drifted on to the wrong side of the road and barely braked before crashed into an oncoming car, killing two brothers, a court heard on Monday.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A woman was high on methylamphetamine when she crossed on to the opposite side of a regional road and crashed into an oncoming car, killing two brothers, a court has heard.
Michelle Kendy Bubner, 50, was left trapped in her white Ford utility by the crash on Victor Harbor Rd, near Mount Compass, about 4pm on Saturday, May 2, 2020.
Mojtaba and Jawad Mohammadi, aged 31 and 28 respectively, who were driving in a Toyota van towards Victor Harbor, died at the scene.
Bubner appeared in the District Court before Judge Simon Stretton on Monday, when her lawyer asked for an adjournment for the preparation of a psychological report on his client.
Bubner has pleaded guilty to two aggravated counts of causing death by dangerous driving but, before Monday’s hearing, the circumstances of aggravation had not been revealed.
“I take it the circumstances of aggravation are that the accused was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time?” Judge Stretton asked prosecutor James Slocombe.
Mr Slocombe said Bubner was drug-affected and drove recklessly shortly before the crash.
“This is a matter where, under the effect of methylamphetamine, (Bubner) has driven across the white double line and she’s driven in the incorrect lane until she’s connected with the deceased’s vehicle,” Mr Slocombe said.
“They were two brothers. There were no mechanical factors impacting on the collision.
“There is little evidence of braking before the impact and this is a matter where the consequences of the collision have been devastating.
“We say that in this situation the satisfaction of the public’s outrage needs to be a factor in sentence.”
Judge Stretton was asked by Bubner’s lawyer to order a report to assess her suitability to spend any jail sentence on home detention.
Mr Slocombe said the circumstances of the crash were too serious for anything but an immediate term of imprisonment to be considered by the court.
Bubner’s lawyer said his client had no other criminal history and had not used drugs since the crash.
Judge Stretton said the crash was “a serious example of this kind of offending” but agreed to order the report.
“There are two very serious aspects of this,” Judge Stretton said.
“Firstly, she crossed on to the entirely wrong side of the road and drove straight into an oncoming vehicle.
“Secondly, she was significantly affected by methylamphetamine at the time. But I should allow the accused to put her best foot forward whatever that may be.”
The court heard that lengthy victim impact statements written by the family of the two brothers would be read at the next court hearing.
In the minutes after the crash, several nurses who were on their way to start an evening shift stopped to help those involved in the crash.
Bubner will appear in court again in October.
More Coverage
Elderly woman rushed to hospital after shocking truck and car collision
A woman believed to be in her 70s has been rushed to hospital after a serious crash involving a truck and car in Adelaide’s inner northeastern suburbs.
‘I don’t have time’: Magistrate tells lawyer to drive to Mount Gambier
An Adelaide magistrate has told a lawyer to take a trip to Mount Gambier to get a proper plea from his client, who is facing 45 child abuse material charges.