Bunbury delivery driver fined over crash

A Bunbury Red Rooster delivery driver was wrongly told that the two people in a car she crashed into were killed, a court has been told.

Michaela Dianna Anderson, 24, was charged with two counts of careless driving causing bodily harm following the terrifying accident near Bunbury Forum Shopping Centre on June 27 last year.

Anderson was making a delivery when she pulled out into the path of an oncoming car at a Sandridge Road intersection about midday on the day of the incident.

The car slammed into the driver’s side of Anderson’s car.

The driver of the other car received numerous injuries including lacerations, swelling and bruising while the passenger’s rib and sternum were fractured in the crash.

Anderson had to be cut free from her car and all three were taken to hospital, but were discharged a short time later.

Anderson had been off her P plates for just two months.

Anderson appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday when she pleaded guilty.

Defence lawyer Zoe Gilders said Anderson’s court proceedings had been a “confronting” time for her and she was told by a previous lawyer the charges were likely to be upgraded after the two victims had died.

Magistrate Gregory Smith responded in surprise at the statement and said the injuries were clearly minor.

Ms Gilders agreed and said the entire incident had been a wake up call for Anderson who had no criminal or driving record and was otherwise a “very careful” driver.

She said Anderson had limited recollection of the crash after sustaining a head injury but she voluntarily spoke to police in the days after the incident and told them everything she could remember.

Magistrate Smith said it was obvious it was an accident and that no one was saying Anderson did it on purpose, but she did not pay enough attention.

He said he was sure it had been a horrible experience for Anderson and knew she wished she could “turn back the clock”.

While Magistrate Smith warned the maximum penalties were $36,000 and three years jail, he said he “wouldn’t think of anything else” but a fine.

Anderson was fined $1000 on each charge and disqualified from driving for six months.

Anderson let out a visible sigh of relief after being sentenced.