Ruby Matilda Mortimer pleads guilty to crash death of Mullumbimby woman Sandra Kessler

A young Gold Coast mother who crashed into and killed another driver on a country road while she had two different drugs in her blood has faced the NSW District Court for the first time.

Ruby Matilda Mortimer, 32, has pleaded guilty to the crash death of Mullumbimby local Sandra Kessler on February 6, 2023.

A young Gold Coast mother had methamphetamine and cannabis in her blood when she crashed into and killed an elderly driver in a two car head-on crash in the Tweed Shire, a court has heard.

Ruby Matilda Mortimer, 32, was arraigned before Judge Jonathan Priestley in Lismore District Court on Wednesday.

She was charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving with illicit drugs in her blood after the fatal tragedy which claimed 81-year-old Sandra Kessler’s life.

The court heard on February 6, 2023 Mortimer was driving a 2004 silver Subaru Outback station wagon with Queensland registration plates when she collided with a 2022 grey Honda Jazz hatchback.

Mortimer was travelling north while the hatchback was travelling south when they crashed in the southbound lane on Tweed Valley Way, Dunbible near Murwillumbah about 2.30pm.

Ruby Matilda Mortimer, 32.

Sandra Kessler, 81.

Mortimer pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and guilty to the summary charge of driving with illicit drugs in her blood, pertaining to positive tests for methamphetamine and cannabis.

Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell said a back-up charge of negligent driving causing death would be withdrawn at sentence.

Mortimer faced Lismore District Court on Wednesday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene yet every attempt to save the 81-year-old Mullumbimby local Sandra Kessler failed, and tragically she died at the scene.

A 2023 funeral notice for Ms Kessler described her as a “well-loved Mullumbimby local”.

Mortimer was flown to Lismore Base Hospital in a critical condition with multiple fractures and internal injuries.

Defence solicitor Kylie Anderson-Clarke sought an eight-week adjournment to procure a sentencing assessment report

Judge Priestley adjourned the matter for sentence on July 3.

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