Maree Ann Deverix sentenced after driving son into a tree while drunk, high at Williamstown

She kept drinking spirits even while driving her alcoholic teenage son to treatment. The consequences of her crash were profound – but a judge today ruled she shouldn’t go to jail.

A mother was drunk, high on weed, and drank “at least” two cans of double-strength Jim Beam while driving her alcoholic son to a medical appointment to treat his own dependence, a court has heard.

Maree Ann Deverix, 51, faced the District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after last year losing control of her vehicle and crashing into a tree in Williamstown, in the Barossa.

Her son Evan, 21, was seriously injured and flown to hospital where he spent 16 days in a coma and now lives with a lifelong brain injury.

Deverix, of Angas Valley, returned a positive alcohol reading of 0.112 – more than double the legal limit – and pleaded guilty to aggravated cause serious harm by dangerous driving.

Judge Jane Schammer said that, during a search of the vehicle after the crash, police found a “full 5L cask of wine, an empty 5L bladder of a wine cask and a half-full bladder of another wine cask”.

Deverix leaves the District Court with a supporter after she was spared jail. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“The collision occurred because your ability to control the vehicle was significantly compromised by your earlier consumption of both the alcohol and cannabis,” Judge Schammer said.

“You acknowledged that you had been drinking that day – including while you were driving.

“Evan sustained serious injuries in the collision – these included a brain injury with numerous brain bleeds, which required surgery.”

The court also heard Evan, then 19, suffered a broken pelvis, fractured collarbone, multiple lacerations and rib fractures.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Williamstown on February 29 last year after reports a northbound car had left the road and hit a tree.

Both Deverix – who was issued with an instant loss of licence following her arrest – and Evan were taken to hospital.

Mr Deverix was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after the crash. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The injuries he sustained left him in critical condition suffering from a serious brain injury – for which he is now receiving care from the Lifetime Support Scheme.

Last month, the court heard his recovery and rehab since the incident had been “quite remarkable” – with the prosecution submitting he was now able to function “relatively independently”.

“The irony and the tragedy is that the defendant’s own alcoholism and cannabis use – combined with her decision to allow her son to be a passenger in her car while she drove under the influence of these substances – has resulted in a serious brain injury to her son,” they said.

On Wednesday, Judge Schammer accepted Deverix was “deeply sorry” and carried “enormous guilt” for the offending, but said it was “very, very fortunate” no other drivers were injured as a result of her careless driving.

She sentenced Deverix to three years’ jail with a non-parole period of 18 months – suspended upon entering into a two-year good behaviour bond.

Deverix also received a licence disqualification for 10 years, backdated to the day of her arrest.

Originally published as Maree Ann Deverix sentenced after driving son into a tree while drunk, high at Williamstown