Melton South’s Renae Plecher, 28 pleaded guilty in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after Strathtulloh crash

A young Melton South truck driver responsible for a terrifying crash that left two kids and their mum trapped in a car says it will live with her for the rest of her life.

A 40-year-old woman and her two children were flown to hospitals in Melbourne on August 29 2023 with serious injuries after they were hit from behind by a truck on Greigs Rd, Strathtulloh. .Picture: 7News

A young Melton South truck driver responsible for a terrifying crash that left two kids and their mum trapped in a car before being flown to hospital says it would live with her for the rest of her life.

Renae Plecher, 28 pleaded guilty in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to careless driving following a crash near Melton last year which resulted in four people, including herself, being hospitalised.

The court heard the Melton South mother was driving an 18-tonne tipper truck along Greigs Rd, Strathtulloh and approached a roundabout before the heavy vehicle smashed into the back of a stationary vehicle which rolled into a car in front.

Melton mum Renae Plecher, 28 pleaded guilty to careless driving after a crash at Strathtulloh last August.
Picture: Supplied

Emergency services arrived at the scene about 7.30am where Plecher and other bystanders were attempting to help the victims.

A 40-year-old woman and her two children, aged 2 and 8, were trapped inside.

Plecher, who represented herself, told the court she had sustained injuries as well but declined help from paramedics to focus on the family.

Magistrate Meagan Keogh was tolds she fully co-operated with police when subjected to drug and alcohol testing and they also obtained dashcam footage to assess her conduct before the crash.

A 40-year-old woman and two children were flown to hospital after the Strathtulloh crash. Picture: 7News

During a police interview, Plecher admitted she had looked through the rear-vision mirror for an extended period and did not see the stationary car in time.

The mother and her children were freed before she was flown to the Royal Melbourne in a serious condition and her children to the Royal Children’s Hospital with serious injuries, including broken legs.

Plecher was later taken to hospital by road.

She told the court she would live with the “confronting scene” for the rest of her life and it was very hard to deal with being a mother herself.

The 27-year-old truck driver said she was looking in her rear mirror before the crash. Picture: 7News

She did not have any previous driving offences and said the past year had been made worse by debt collectors contacting her despite being told the incident was covered by insurance.

Ms Keogh said following the collision on the day, Plecher “did everything we ask you to do after a crash” and her remorse was obvious.

Plecher was fined $1500 but no court order was made against her licence and no conviction was recorded.