Kylee Anderson: Sentence for Pacific Highway crash, Kay Anderson death

A woman who tragically killed her own mother in a deadly collision just hours after consuming cannabis has asked to be released from jail “immediately”.

A woman who tragically killed her own mother in a deadly collision just hours after consuming cannabis has asked to be released from jail “immediately” to care for another family member.

About 8:50am on September 26, 2017, a drug impaired Kylee Heather Anderson was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta on the Pacific Highway, near Telegraph Point, travelling with her family to her Queensland home.

Kylee Anderson.

Kay Anderson.

A court had previously heard Anderson, driving her mother’s car, veered out of her lane and made a sharp correction into an oncoming car.

Her car was then struck in the rear by a B-double truck before colliding with a Toyota HiLux which ultimately came to rest on the rear roof of the Fiesta.

Anderson’s mother, Kay Anderson, was transported to Port Macquarie Hospital but later died.

In January this year, Anderson was found guilty by a jury at Port Macquarie District Court of dangerous driving occasioning death and was immediately taken into custody.

In a sentence hearing at Sydney District Court on Monday, Anderson’s barrister Peter Williams told the court there was a “plethora of evidence” his client was remorseful about the entire incident.

“During the trial the offender was often very, very upset, particularly when evidence was given about the state of injuries to (a passenger) and her mother,” he said.

However, Judge Nicole Noman pointed out Anderson was sticking by her version of events which was rejected by a jury and highlighted she had not taken criminal responsibility for her driving.

The court heard Anderson had been convicted in 2013 in the Queensland Supreme Court for drug supply after she couriered drugs between Queensland and Hervey Bay.

Judge Noman said at some point on Anderson’s journey between Balgownie and the crash site, she had used cannabis. Mr Williams accepted the drug had been a problem for Anderson for “some time” and it had impaired her driving at the time of the collision.

Mr Williams asked for a finding of special circumstances in light of the “integral role” Anderson plays in supporting her daughter’s recover from medical issues and for a sentence to be imposed which would allow Anderson to leave prison immediately.

A sentence will be handed down next month.