Shani Hando car crash: Sonya McMaster pleads guilty

A woman who got behind the wheel of a car while she was drunk and under the influence of drugs caused a horror crash which left a young mum dead.

A 33-year-old Trangie woman has pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing death after she got behind the wheel of a Holden Barina while drunk and on drugs.

The life of Peak Hill mother of two Shani Hando, 34, was cut short after her friend, Sonya McMaster, 33, veered off the road and rolled the Holden multiple times in the early hours of December 28 last year.

Shani Hando. Picture: Facebook

Police said Ms Hando, a passenger in the car, was ejected from the car and died at the scene of the crash on Tomingley West Road, about 60 kilometres southwest of Dubbo.

In court documents police said McMaster had a blood alcohol reading of .09, which was almost twice the legal limit, when she crashed the car and Ms Hando was killed.

McMaster was also under the influence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), police said in court documents.

After police laid a total of five charges, McMaster pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, drive under the influence.

Other charges laid against McMaster were either withdrawn or downgraded to back-up offences which a District Court judge will take into consideration, secondary to the main offence that was pleaded guilty to.

Drink driver Sonya McMaster will be sentenced in the District Court. Picture: Facebook

Due to a Covid lockdown, McMaster did not appear in Dubbo Local Court to enter the guilty plea and it was entered on her behalf by her lawyer.

Magistrate Gary Wilson accepted the plea and adjourned the case to District Court on September 17.

Wording of a final statement of agreed facts, which will outline the full circumstances of the crash and McMaster’s behaviour, is currently being negotiated between prosecutors and defence lawyers.