Rhonda Beth Cullen pleads guilty to leaving the scene of a crash at Bundamba

A magistrate has criticised a woman’s actions after she was involved in a car accident, with a court hearing she should not have been behind the wheel in the first place.

A magistrate told Rhonda Beth Cullen that her actions in leaving the scene of a minor crash were morally wrong.

WHEN Rhonda Cullen reversed a Ford Falcon into another car on a service station driveway, she made a split-second decision that only made her situation worse.

An Ipswich court this week heard Cullen put her car into gear and left the scene, with the other driver attempting to follow her for a short time before losing track of her on the Warrego Hwy.

Cullen was not licensed to drive at the time because of demerit points, Ipswich Magistrates Court has heard.

Appearing for sentence, Rhonda Beth Cullen, 50, from Goodna, pleaded guilty to driving without due care in Bundamba on February 2; being a driver involved in a crash at Ashburn Rd did not comply with duties to provide details; driving when unlicensed – demerits; causing public nuisance on September 27 last year; four counts of failing to appear; and two counts of breaching bail conditions.

Police prosecutor Ricky Tsoi said the main offences were the driving and accident charges, but there were also her failures to attend court to deal with the matters.

The main incident occurred at a service station in Bundamba at 1pm.

A man was seated in his stationary car when Cullen reversed the Ford into the front of his car. The impact caused damage to the front end and bonnet.

Mr Tsoi said she did not stop and simply drove onto the Warrego highway where the man lost sight of her.

The irate owner gave details to police. He also reported suffering whiplash from the impact.

The court heard the unrelated public nuisance charge arose when police were at a Goodna street attempting to arrest a man.

Cullen was at the scene and began swearing at neighbours, and her bad behaviour led to her being charged with causing public nuisance.

Defence lawyer John Wilson said she simply panicked at the time of the service station accident, knowing she was unlicensed because of demerits.

Magistrate Peter Saggers said it was unusual for a person of her age to be given a supervised probation order.

“What happened was not only a breach of transport law but it was morally wrong too,” Mr Saggers said.

“It was wrong not to stop, and even to say I’m sorry these are my details.

“I’m told that you panicked as you should not have been driving, thinking it would be really bad for me.”

Cullen was convicted and sentenced to a supervised 12-month probation order.