Farm worker Mella Christy ran stop sign before crash that killed Jiwon Lee in Merbein
A Mildura farm worker ran a stop sign and collided with a truck, killing her South Korean co-worker on their day off, a court has heard.
Mildura
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An Indonesian national working in Mildura ran a stop sign and collided with a truck at an intersection, killing her passenger, a court has heard.
Mella Christy, 31, fronted County Court in Mildura to plead guilty to one charge of driving in a manner dangerous causing death.
The court heard Christy, a farm worker, and one of her co-workers, a 24-year-old South Korean itinerant worker Jiwon Lee, had a day off and had planned to visit local attractions as they were both new to the area.
After visiting the Salt Lakes in Merbein, they were travelling east on Fifth St when Christy ignored a warning sign and then ran a stop sign, causing her white 2006 Holden to collide with an oncoming Isuzu truck.
The impact caused both vehicles to end up on the gravel shoulder of the road.
Ms Lee was trapped in the vehicle for an hour before being removed by emergency services. She was declared dead at the scene.
The court heard witnesses describe Christy’s driving as distracted in the moments before the crash.
The court heard moving Victim Impact Statements from the mother and father of Ms Lee.
“Since losing my beloved daughter, my entire life has fallen apart,” Ms Lee’s father’s statement read, adding he had to resign from his job to cope with his grief.
Ms Lee’s mother’s statement described her unbearable pain, and that she had tried to take her own life several times since the accident.
Christy suffered several serious injuries and spent 20 days in Mildura Base Public Hospital, including six days in the intensive care unit.
It was revealed by psychologist Carla Lechner, who assessed Christy, that she had developed PTSD and severe depression following the accident.
Christy’s lawyer added she was cooperative with police both at the scene of the accident and in subsequent interactions.
Judge Fiona Todd accepted Christy’s remorse and said she acted “like a good human being” who was wracked with horror and grief following the crash.
Prosecutor David O’Doherty said the psychological impact on Christy was not exceptional and said she deserved to receive a prison sentence for her actions.
Judge Todd listed her sentencing for 10.30am on Friday.
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