A distracted driver who leant over to kiss her passenger has avoided jail time after her car flipped several times on the South Coast Highway, resulting in serious injuries.
Belinda Farmer, 29, and her former partner were singing along to music at 4am on their drive from Perth to Esperance for a camping trip.
The victim was ejected from the passenger seat and suffered two collapsed lungs and fractures to his spine after Farmer lost control of her Subaru Forester East of Munglinup and hit some tree branches before the car rolled.
Her passenger was flown to Perth for treatment.
Police prosecutor Constable Nixon told the court Farmer had consumed two alcoholic beverages during the drive and had unlawfully taken dexamphetamine to help her stay awake.
She blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.056 and had 0.03mg of dexamphetamine in her system.
Farmer’s defence said she had visited the victim every day in hospital and helped with the recovery, but the former pair were no longer on speaking terms because the victim blamed her for “ruining his life”.
Her defence said she held strong remorse for her actions and had struggled to be in a car since the incident.
They said it was a “one off mistake” for the single mother, who was unable to resume her work as a cleaner because she could not drive.
Magistrate Lyons said Farmer’s carelessness was towards the “higher end”.
“You were aware of how dangerous it can be to drive in those conditions,” Magistrate Lyons said.
“Whilst you did not intend for any of this to happen, you are lucky the victim didn’t die — it’s just good luck that it didn’t happen.
“The consequences of your negligent driving were severe.”
Magistrate Lyons recognised that Farmer was remorseful and unlikely to commit a similar offence again.
He gave her a 25 per cent discount for her early guilty plea.
Farmer received a seven-month suspended sentence, was disqualified from driving for three months and fined $600.
