Peng Bernhardt in court for driving without due care

A church leader wiped away tears while facing court for causing a serious crash with a mum driving her two children on a busy Maroochydore road.

Peng Bernhardt appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 7, 2023.

While approaching traffic a church leader slammed on her accelerator instead of the brake, crashing into a mum driving her children to daycare and school.

Peng Bernhardt, 70, wiped away tears as the details were read out in court of her “mistake” which resulted in a serious crash.

Bernhardt pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 17, 2023 to one count of driving without due care and attention causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Bernhardt was involved in a crash at the intersection of Main Rd and Maroochydore Rd, Maroochydore about 8am on February 7.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer told the court Bernhardt had stepped on the accelerator with full force, thinking she was on the brake.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the serious crash on Maroochydore and Main Rd. Photo: David Brzeski

Her Lexus wagon sped up from 49 to 80km/h in 4.8 seconds, the court was told.

Court documents stated she crossed the centre median strip and accelerated before turning right into oncoming traffic.

Ms Bernhardt had told police she was driving to a church service and intended to turn into Main Rd when she suddenly spotted traffic waiting at the traffic lights, documents stated.

Her car smashed head-on into a Kia Sportage with a 39-year-old Kuluin woman and her two young children inside heading to school and daycare, the court heard.

Peng Bernhardt appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 7, 2023.

Documents revealed the other driver suffered a badly broken foot, which she may never fully recover from, and was in hospital for seven weeks.

Her children were uninjured.

Sergeant Brewer told the court the victim has suffered from trauma, anxiety and stress ever since.

Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden said Ms Bernhardt also received several injuries and suffered from stress and anxiety since the incident.

Excluding one demerit point, Ms Bernhardt had a clean criminal and traffic history in her 40 years of driving in Australia, the court heard.

Mr Pruden said his client attends church several times per week and is in a leadership role reading scriptures.

The court heard she wrote an apology letter to the victim saying she would continue to light a candle for the victim’s wellbeing and recovery every week at her church.

Outside of court, Ms Bernhardt said she was “very sorry and it was all a big mistake”.

 Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist disqualified Ms Bernhardt from driving for seven months and she was fined $2000

Originally published as Peng Bernhardt in court for driving without due care