Jessica Glennie had cannabis in her system, did a shot before killing best friend in crash

A young mother who had drugs in her system slammed her car into a power pole, killing her own unborn baby and her best friend in a tragedy that has rocked their families.

Jessica Glennie, of Sydenham, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and a summary charge of driving with drugs in her system, namely cannabis.

A young mum who was on drugs when she crashed her car into into a power pole, killing her best friend, was also pregnant at the time and lost her baby to a miscarriage in the incident.

Jessica Glennie, of Sydenham, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and a summary charge of driving with drugs in her system, namely cannabis.

On September 25 2021 Glennie killed her best friend, Janelle Noonan-Long, in a crash at Diggers Rest after losing control of her Holden Ute.

Glennie, now 24 but 22 at the time of the incident, had cannabis in her system and despite not being charged with drink driving the court heard she had alcohol in her system but it was unable to be determined what level it would have been at the time of the crash.

She was also driving on a suspended probationary licence, a licence when valid requires the carrier to have zero alcohol in their system.

Janelle Noonan-Long, 22 was killed in a car crash in Diggers Rest in September 2021.

At the time of the crash Glennie and Ms Noonan Long were both working as pizza delivery drivers at Victoria’s Pizza and Beyond.

They had been at work together that night before going back to Glennie’s house.

Just before the crash the pair went back to their workplace to see a friend where the court heard Glennie was seen doing a shot of alcohol.

The pair then left and at 11.55pm were driving along Plumpton Rd in Diggers Rest when Glennie lost control of the car and skidded about 35m into a concrete power pole.

Ms Noonan-Long, 22, was in the passenger seat and was crushed and trapped by the roof —she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jessica Glennie killed her best friend, Janelle Noonan -Long (pictured) in a crash at Diggers Rest after losing control of her Holden Ute

Ms Noonan-Long’s grandmother said in a statement she had lost a “friend” and a “confidant”.

“I was there when she was born and I always assumed she would be there when I died,” the statement read.

It continued: “The world is now grey, not coloured.

I never got to hold her one last time and kiss her goodbye.”

Ms Noonan-Long’s partner told the court through a statement she had lost the person she had planned to build a future with.

“All I see is the red and blue flashing lights of that night,” the statement read.

She described how they had planned to pursue IVF and fostering children as well as how they dreamt of owning a home together.

“This has stolen the joy of the present but also cast a shadow over everything that is to come.”

“Grief is a constant companion.”

Janelle and her partner had big plans for the future.

Ms Noonan-Long was also a beloved lollipop lady at Parkwood Green and her uncle said through a statement Ms Noonan Long was a “beautiful and kind person”.

The court heard the victim had lost her grandfather in a violent car crash many years ago and then watched as her own mother drank herself to death to deal with the grief.

Naomi Smith for the defence told the court Glennie recognised this was a “dreadful human tragedy”.

The court heard Glennie told police she struggled to think of a future without her best friend in it.

“I loved her, she was my best friend and she is not here because of me,” she said.

The court heard Glennie has a four-year-old son and was pregnant at the time of the crash and miscarried as a result.

Glennie also suffered several spinal injuries as well as other serious injuries that required surgeries and cause her ongoing issues.

Judge Peter Lauritsen said Glennie “shouldn’t have been driving at all” and adjourned the matter for sentencing early next year.