Taliah-Rose Willis pleads guilty to abandoning crashed car at Alexandra Headland

A Sunshine Coast woman has revealed why she was out driving on the morning she abandoned her car on a footpath after slamming into a sign, bollards and a water meter.

Taliah-Rose Willis outside Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

A young aged care worker has admitted to abandoning her car after crashing it in a beachside Sunshine Coast suburb.

Police found Taliah-Rose Willis’ damaged vehicle along Sugar Rd, Alexandra Headland in the early morning of October 16, 2024, however she was nowhere in sight.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Monday when police arrived to the scene, they found the vehicle had driven into a sign, bollards and a water meter.

Police prosecutor Pedau Grabbe said the car came to a rest across the footpath with minor damage to the front.

Senior Constable Grabbe said police connected Willis to the vehicle who later admitted to being the driver of the car when it crashed.

It was also revealed she was driving on a disqualified licence at the time, which had been suspended since April 4 last year.

Willis following her sentence.

The police prosecutor said the Alexandra Headland woman also drove disqualified a second time on November 13 last year.

When speaking to officers at the police station two days later, she said she went for a drive to clear her head about 3am the morning of the accident, but could not recall how the smash occurred.

The 20-year-old told police she didn’t get far from home before she lost traction on Sugar Rd.

Willis said she removed the number plates from the vehicle as they belonged to a friend, and left on foot.

Defence lawyer Luke Bull said Willis came from a traumatic background in Victoria and moved to the Sunshine Coast where she now works in aged care.

Mr Bull said Willis left the home to de-escalate a situation with a relative on the night of the crash. She wanted to walk, however due to the rain decided to drive which led to the crash.

Willis pleaded guilty to two counts of driving disqualified and one of driving without due care and attention and was fined $1000 by magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist. She was also barred from driving for two years.

“When you get in a car, make sure it’s in the back seat,” Mr Stjernqvist said.

Originally published as Taliah-Rose Willis pleads guilty to abandoning crashed car at Alexandra Headland