Toowoomba mother Kylie Gardner recklessly crashes her car at school pick up time

After an afternoon of causing chaos on the roads of Toowoomba, including near a school at pick up time, a mother of three has landed in court. Here’s what happened.

A Toowoomba woman who caused chaos by driving recklessly near a school zone at pick-up time had pedestrians fleeing to safety when she drove on the other side of the road.

The court was told that on February 18 at about 2:45pm this year, Kylie Gardner endangered motorists and pedestrians on several streets in town where she fishtailed, spun 180 degrees and drove a car with a confiscated licence plate on the other side of the road causing pedestrians to seek safety at a nearby residence.

The series of offences occurred near Wilsonton State High School at school pick-up time as the mother of three parked the car at Sanctuary and Adelaide streets and spoke with witnesses before she abandoned the Ford Falcon and fled the scene on foot.

The court was told police caught up to the 40-year-old and used their lights and sirens in an attempt to intercept the driver.

About 4:54pmthat afternoon the vehicle was again found by police at a different address where she was arrested and asked to take a blood test which detected cannabis in her system, police prosecutor constable Chris Willson told the court.

In court on Wednesday Gardner pleaded guilty to numerous charges including dangerous driving, evasion, breach of bail and operating a vehicle during number plate confiscation.

Solicitor Jag MacDonald submitted the cannabis found in her system was prescribed as pain relief for Gardner’s unstable spinal discs.

Mr MacDonald told the court Gardner’s change of medication for her depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and ADHD caused her to have a lapse in judgment.

The court was told Gardner struggled with mental health throughout her life and was seeking additional support to manage her conditions.

Mr MacDonald said Gardner is the sole guardian for her teenage son and a period of imprisonment would lead to the removal of her son and government housing.

The severity of her actions and traffic history however could not be excused, with magistrate Clare Kelly labelling it an “unnecessary risk to the community”.

Gardner was sentenced to six months imprisonment with immediate parole, was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $7187.50.