Suspended L-plater admits to smoking five bongs before North Gosford fatal crash

A 20-YEAR-OLD woman who was on a suspended learner’s licence when she was involved in a fatal car crash told police that she had smoked “five bongs”.

Bianca Harrington, 20, was charged with dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death and driving on a suspended learner's licence.

A 20-YEAR-OLD woman who was on a suspended learner’s licence when she was involved in a fatal car crash was a drug user who told police that she had smoked “five bongs” and “could not remember where she had been all night”, a court was told yesterday.

The allegations were made at Gosford Local Court as Bianca Harrington was refused bail on charges of dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death and one count of driving while suspended.

The court heard Ms Harrington was driving with a 17-year-old female passenger in her father’s Holden Commodore when it clipped another car just after 6am at North Gosford, on Saturday before ending up on the wrong side of the road where she ploughed head-on into the red Mitsubishi Mirage being driven by Kay Maria Shaylor, 62.

The Gosford Local Court was told about Bianca Harrington’s “dramatic childhood” in and out of foster care. Picture: Facebook

Bianca Harrington sat in the dock crying as her Legal Aid solicitor told the court of her “dramatic childhood”. Picture: Facebook

Ms Shaylor suffered several major injuries and was taken to Gosford Hospital before being flown to Royal North Shore Hospital where she later died. It is understood the nurse was on her way to work at the Chamberlain Gardens nursing home in Wyoming at the time of the crash.

Ms Harrington and her passenger were relatively unscathed.

Ms Harrington sat in the dock crying as her Legal Aid solicitor argued that community concerns over bail could be mitigated with strict conditions that she not occupy the driver’s seat of a vehicle and she live with her disabled mother, who was seated in the public gallery, at Umina Beach.

The driver of this car, Kay Maria Shaylor, was killed in the collision at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and Dwyer Street, North Gosford, on Saturday. Picture: Digicrew Australia

The solicitor said Ms Harrington’s mother had just been diagnosed with a second cancer and needed help showering, getting out of bed and “moving around”.

However, the police prosecutor claimed Ms Harrington “made admissions” to being an active and ongoing drug user who told police during a recorded interview that she had smoked “five bongs”.

“She’s then driven from Sydney to the Central Coast and could not remember where she had been all night,” he told the court.

Bianca Harrington was refused bail after being involved in the fatal car crash and will appear in court again next month. Picture: Facebook

“She was already suspended and in relation to the concerns there, my friend says ‘don’t occupy a driver’s seat?’ She already knew that.

“If she’s granted bail she might not abide by her bail conditions, she’s already shown the court she’s willing to drive.”

Magistrate Susan McIntyre formally refused bail and adjourned the matter to October 28. Ms Harrington called out to her mother “I love you mum” as she was led into custody.

Bianca Harrington was driving this Commodore that she borrowed off her father. Picture: Digicrew Australia

Outside court Ms Harrington’s mother said she was devastated by the tragic incident. “My heart breaks for the (victim’s) family,” she said.

Tributes for Mrs Shaylor have been shared across social media.

Daniel Rond said: “The deceased cared for the elderly, looking after people who couldn’t care for themselves in their final years of life and had her own life ripped away.”

Originally published as Suspended L-plater admits to smoking five bongs before North Gosford fatal crash