Mother pleads guilty to causing son’s brain injury in crash on Lamington Tce, Nambour

A mother had a cocktail of drugs in her system when she caused a horror crash in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, which led to her young son suffering grievous injuries.

A boy is fighting for his life following a crash on Lamington Tce and Panorama Dr in Nambour on Wednesday night.

A Sunshine Coast mother who had a cocktail of drugs in her system when she caused a horror crash, which resulted in her son suffering a brain injury, has walked from court with no conviction.

The mum, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim, was instead placed on a two-year probation order for the catastrophic crash in Nambour on November 29, 2023 that led to grievous injuries for her three-year-old child.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard on Friday how the woman in her 20s had multiple substances in her system when she rolled her vehicle at the corner of Lamington Tce and Panorama Dr.

The boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.

A Queensland Children’s Hospital spokesman said at the time of the crash he was placed in an induced coma.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist read the bevy of drugs that were in the woman’s system to the court, which included amphetamine, meth, marijuana and diazepam.

She was later charged with driving without due care and attention causing grievous bodily harm and driving with a drug present. She pleaded guilty on Friday.

The aftermath of the crash at Nambour.

Police prosecutor Pedau Grabbe said the toddler suffered a brain injury and was receiving intervention for functional needs and improved speech. She said the crash affected his ability to walk along with other tasks due to injuries to the leg and arm.

Senior Constable Grabbe asked for a suspended sentence.

Defence lawyer Rose Killip said the woman, who was currently in emergency accommodation, should instead take part in probation.

Ms Killip said since being charged the woman engaged with drug rehabilitation and mental health services and had no criminal history. The court was told the woman was also taking her son for his rehab for his ongoing needs.

Besides this, the solicitor said the toddler thankfully made a full recovery.

Mr Stjernqvist said there was a significant and complex array of substances in the woman’s system that caused the accident and injury to her son.

“This is something you’ll have to carry with you for a very long time,” he said.

She was placed on probation and disqualified from driving for six months.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Mother pleads guilty to causing son’s brain injury in crash on Lamington Tce, Nambour