Kelly Renee Liddicoat traffic history revealed following jail sentence

The woman responsible for killing two young mechanics while they repaired a broken down bus had a long history of traffic offences, including crashing while on methylamphetamines and more than 14 speeding convictions.

Kelly Liddicoat (black hair) leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The woman responsible for killing two young Sunshine Coast mechanics while they repaired a broken down bus had a shocking traffic history, which included more than 14 speeding convictions, a court has been told.

Kelly Renee Liddicoat, 45, was driving a white BMW sedan when she struck and killed Baringa man Lleyton Bartlett, 22, and Currimundi man Aaron Pitt, 25, while they repaired a broken down bus on Nambour Connection Rd at Woombye on April 21, 2022.

Currimundi man Aaron Pitt, 25. Photos: Supplied

Baringa man Lleyton Bartlett, 22. Photos: Supplied

She was found guilty in the Maroochydore District Court on October 18, 2023, of a lone charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, following a two week trial, and was sentenced on April 16, 2024.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks shared Liddicoat’s criminal and traffic history during her part-heard sentencing on April 15, the latter of which included multiple convictions prior to the deadly crash.

Kelly Liddicoat (black hair) leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Ms Marks told the court Liddicoat, in the space of about 20 years starting from 1998, had been convicted of driving unlicensed or while she was disqualified, failing to stop at a red light, making a U-turn where it was not permitted, driving with a phone in her hand and making a left hand turn from a bike lane.

Ms Marks said she had also been caught speeding 14 times during that period, and a blood analyst certificate had indicated that in 2020 she was involved in a car accident only hours after she had smoked ice.

“The defendant has previously admitted to having driven her motor vehicle and been involved in an accident while she had consumed methylamphetamines within the hours prior to her driving,” she said.

The court was told Liddicoat was a recovering drug addict for heroin and meth use, but on the day of the crash which killed Mr Bartlett and Mr Pitt, she was found to have a cocktail of prescription medicine in her system, used to treat various mental health conditions.

Kelly Liddicoat (black hair) leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

This included lyrica, valium, clonidine, lamotrigine, seroquel and clotiapine, as well as suboxone as part of her drug use recovery process.

All medicines were prescribed to her and detected in doses consistent with her prescription, though the court was told all medicines had clear warnings they could cause drowsiness and did not recommend driving after use.

Judge Michael Williamson told the court during Liddicoat’s part-heard sentencing on Tuesday, April 16, Liddicoat should not have been driving after taking them, regardless of if she had been told she could by a doctor.

Mr Pitt’s father Rob Pitt told this publication he felt Liddicoat had demonstrated a lack of care and respect for the community with her traffic history, and that it was “just a matter of time until she killed someone on our roads”.

“I ask over and over day in, day out why did it have to be my son Aaron and Darren and Lisa’s son Lleyton,” he said.

“With what we know about her situation, how was she even able to have a drivers licence?”

Mr Bartlett’s mother, Lisa Bartlett, told this publication she could not understand why there had not been earlier intervention over Liddicoat’s traffic history.

She said she felt if something had been done sooner, perhaps her son and Mr Pitt would still be alive.

Liddicoat, who had already served around six months in presentence custody, was sentenced to six and a half years jail but will be eligible for parole on April 15, 2026.

Originally published as Kelly Renee Liddicoat traffic history revealed following jail sentence