Natasha Vaye faces court over crash which injured her mother and son at Davoren Park

A man who pulled a limp toddler from the wreck of a car that drove into his path has revealed harrowing details as the child’s mother faced a court.

A truck driver who smashed into a car that drove into his path after running a stop sign had to carry the limp, unconscious body of a toddler from the wreckage of the car, a court has heard.

Natasha Vaye, 36, appeared in the District Court for sentencing submissions on Thursday more than four years after the crash that left her mother needing 24-hour care and also injured her young son and another motorist.

Vaye had initially pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of causing serious harm and harm by dangerous driving but changed her plea shortly before going to trial.

Just after 10.40am on August 8, 2017, Vaye was driving on Stebonheath Rd, Davoren Park with her mother – then 55 – and young son in the car.

The scene of the crash at the intersection of Womma and Stebonheath Rd, Davoren Park. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Vaye passed two signs warning of an upcoming intersection and then drove through a stop sign, crossing into the intersection and colliding with a truck driving on Womma Rd.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Ben Lodge read a victim impact statement from the truck driver.

“The greatest stress has been the toddler I found upside down and unconscious in his baby capsule behind the driver’s seat,” the driver said in his statement.

“The toddler was the same age as my little boy and I thought this child was dead.

“I unclipped him from his capsule and he ragdolled like a deadweight into my arms.

“It wasn’t until I was crossing the intersection seeking assistance that he came to. The thought of this day causes me great stress.”

The scene of the crash at the intersection of Womma and Stebonheath Rd, Davoren Park. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

The truck driver wrote that he was still in shock about what happened that day and he had avoided the intersection for months after the crash.

Mr Lodge said Vaye’s mother had suffered the most serious injuries and had been left nearly totally incapacitated and requiring 24-hour care.

Scott Roche, for Vaye, told Judge Ian Press that his client had made a “grave error” which had left a profound impact.

“She has been shunned by fellow members of her community,” he said.

“She has to live with the guilt and shame. She relives the accident every time she sees her mother, which is daily.”

Natasha Vaye with her lawyer Scott Roche outside the District Court following sentencing submissions on charges of causing harm and serious harm by dangerous driving. Picture: Michael Marschall

Mr Roche said Vaye had been born in Liberia and had a childhood marked by witnessing civil unrest and warfare.

She has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after being exposed to violence and the sight of dead bodies in both Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

Mr Roche asked Judge Press to consider suspending any prison sentence handed to Vaye.

“She does not down play the seriousness of what happened,” he said.

“Her remorse is genuine, she alone shoulders the blame. But she is also a single mother of three children under 14.”

Vaye will be sentenced next month.

Originally published as Natasha Vaye faces court over crash which injured her mother and son at Davoren Park