Guy Sean Leigh Gallagher pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death

Chelsea Maddox’s dreams of becoming a miner and mum ended on a Queensland roadside but three other lives were saved thanks to one conversation long before. VIDEO, UPDATES.

Even as a teenager Chelsea Maddox had spoken to her parents and made her wishes clear - she wanted to be an organ donor.

So, when the unthinkable happened and Chelsea suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a crash caused by a speeding driver, Gary Maddox and Tanya Petersen knew what they needed to do when the time came to let her go.

That the 19-year-old saved three lives on the worst day of their own lives is the only solace to be found as they navigate each year without their “loving and kind” daughter.

And the call for all to have the organ donation conversation with loved ones was as important to the family as the justice they sought when they arrived at the Hervey Bay courthouse this week for the sentencing of driver Guy Gallagher.

While many supporters held signs demanding tougher sentencing for reckless drivers, Ms Petersen’s read: “Be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life”.

Mr Maddox said his daughter had saved the lives of three people, one of whom the family felt lucky to be in contact with, and he and her mum were incredibly proud of her.

He said Chelsea had wanted to work in the mining industry, was already a much-loved aunty and had dreams of one day being a mum.

The family of crash victim Chelsea Maddox spoke outside court about their daughter and sister's decision to donate her organs, saving three lives.

Earlier, at the sentencing hearing, Ms Petersen tearfully told the court how her daughter, left to die on the roadside after the crash, was the “light” of her family.

Wiping his own tears, Guy Sean Leigh Gallagher pleaded guilty in the District Court to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and leaving the scene without obtaining help.

The court heard Gallagher, who was 27 when he caused his white Ford Falcon to hit a power pole on Albert St, Maryborough on February 19, 2023, was driving 98km/h in a 60km zone.

Guy Gallagher is being sentenced in Hervey Bay for causing a crash at Maryborough which killed Bundaberg teen Chelsea Maddox.

The car had slid for 42m before crashing into the power pole and afterwards, Gallagher made the “cowardly and callous” decision to leave the scene and his critically injured passenger behind.

While it wasn’t as protracted as some other examples of dangerous driving, it was an “intense” example, the court heard.

Gallagher had previously been disqualified from driving on seven separate occasions for a range of traffic offences and was described as having an “appalling” traffic history.

He was on parole at the time of the crash, having only been released from jail three months prior, and fled.

The court heard Chelsea, from Welcome Creek in the Bundaberg region, was found in the footwell of the car with her head laying on the seat.

She was intubated at Maryborough hospital before being taken to Brisbane where she was declared brain dead.

When the family heard of the catastrophic injuries Chelsea had suffered, crying could be heard throughout the courtroom.

Chelsea Maddox, pictured before her tragic death, with mum, Tanya.

Ms Petersen, who sobbed as she told the court her daughter was “the light of the family”, was among several family members to read out victim impact statements.

The court heard Gallagher was “deeply remorseful” for his actions and had penned a letter of apology to the family.

He was said to have had an extremely prejudicial childhood and suffered from mental health issues.

Judge Carl Heaton said Gallagher had left the victim to the “kindness of strangers” out of his own self-interest, fearing apprehension by police.

He handed down a nine-year jail sentence with parole eligibility in three years.

Earlier, holding signs reading #Justicefor Chelsea, “Gone too soon: Hold reckless drivers accountable” and “her future was bright – demand justice now”, friends and family gathered outside the Hervey Bay courthouse (which is currently hearing Maryborough cases), standing in silent protest against the carnage caused by dangerous drivers.

As the sentence was read out, family members were visibly distraught.

Outside court, Ms Maddox’s mother Tanya Petersen and father Gary Maddox addressed waiting media.

Mr Maddox said the sentence handed down to Gallagher was never going to be long enough, as far as their family was concerned.

When asked if he felt justice was done, Mr Maddox said “to a point”, adding that he felt Judge Heaton had taken both sides of the case in reaching his sentence.

Ms Petersen said the hardest thing for them to accept was that Gallagher had left her daughter behind while he ran from the scene.

Gallagher is disqualified absolutely from driving again.