Sonya McMaster jailed over Shani Hando crash at Tomingley

A young mum killed in a horror crash was ‘likely not wearing a seatbelt’ when her friend, drunk and high on THC, fell asleep behind the wheel of her Holden Barina.

A driver who got behind the wheel while drunk, deprived of sleep and high on THC has been jailed over a “tragic” crash which claimed the life of her childhood friend in country NSW.

Orange woman Sonya McMaster, 34, and her childhood friend Shani Hando, 34, had spent the night of December 27, 2020, partying in Peak Hill, the District Court at Dubbo heard on Thursday.

Shani Hando was killed in a horror crash on the Tomingley West Road in December 2020. Picture: Facebook

The next morning, Ms Hando asked to be taken to Tomingley, about 18 kilometres north of Peak Hill, to get more alcohol and cigarettes.

CCTV footage captured in the minutes before Ms Hando’s death showed her and McMaster pulling up at a service station in a silver Holden Barina.

At that time, McMaster was driving and she had a seatbelt on, while Ms Hando was unrestrained.

Sonya McMaster pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Picture: Facebook

About 8.29am, the court heard Ms Hando made a call to the Crossroads Hotel, claiming it was 11am and asking for the pub to be opened so she could buy alcohol.

Ms Hando’s request was knocked back and while driving back to Peak Hill, McMaster fell asleep behind the wheel and the car left the Tomingley West Road, before it rolled multiple times.

The court heard Ms Hando was ejected through a window of the vehicle and was found unresponsive in bush beside the road.

After McMaster got herself out of the car, she discovered Ms Hando’s body and ran barefoot to a nearby farm house.

“Help me, help, there was a crash,” McMaster said to a man and woman at the farm house.

“Someone else was in the car. I’ve killed her, I’ve killed her.”

McMaster told police she had consumed about six bottles of full strength Tooheys New before the crash and a breath test returned a reading of .090.

THC was also found in her blood and the court heard expert evidence concluded the amount of the drug found in McMaster’s body “would have substantially impaired her driving at time of collision”.

Shani Hando with her brother Torin. Picture: Facebook

At a pre-sentence hearing, after McMaster pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, she described her decision to drive as “stupid”.

“I take full responsibility for that decision and it’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life,” she said.

“It breaks my heart.”

Ms Hando’s grief-stricken mother Donna told the court her daughter was a proud mother of two and much-loved member of her small community.

“I formally identified my girl, laying in the grass on the road side,” she said.

“To see her broken and lifeless is an image that will stay with me all my days and it brought me to my knees.

“It breaks my heart over and over again, to wake up and realise she is no longer here. I feel empty and there is a big gaping wound inside me that’s never going to heal.”

Sonya McMaster will be eligble for parole in 2023. Picture: Facebook

Judge Nanette Williams said it was not a case of “momentary inattention” on the part of McMaster, who was “significantly sleep-deprived” but got behind the wheel anyway.

While it was “likely” that Ms Hando was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred, Judge Williams said the agreed statement of facts tendered in court did not state whether she was wearing a seatbelt or not.

“I accept that there are other reasons that could have caused the seatbelt to malfunction.

“There is no evidence that speed was a factor.

“Clearly no other sentence than a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate.”

Judge Williams found McMaster was remorseful and had good prospects of rehabilitation.

“Clearly the offender was deeply distressed by giving her evidence, deeply distressed by the death of her friend and the trauma she’s caused Ms Hando’s family.

“The offender has presented a strong case with respect to her rehabilitation. She has a strong family bond and a strong work ethic. she hopes to use her studies to advantage her Aboriginal community.”

McMaster was convicted and sentenced to a three-year jail term.

She will be eligible for parole in August 2023 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

“No sentence that this court can impose could ever bring back Ms Hando,” Judge Williams said.

“This court extends its sincere condolences to the family of Ms Hando and understands her death is a great tragedy, not only to her family but the wider community.”