Irene Ai-Lin Goh had drugs, including methylamphetamine, in her system when she crashed. Credit: AAP
A drug-affected driver who claimed she had no memory of a multiple car crash that caused life-threatening injuries to two people in Perth has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
Irene Ai-Lin Goh, 43, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Jake Brewer-Joyce and Jarrod MacLean on a 100 km/h highway in Maddington in November 2017.
Goh first collided with a truck in the left lane, then over-corrected and crashed into two other vehicles on the other side of a wide and scrubby median strip, the West Australian District Court heard this week.
Mr MacLean suffered fractures to his right leg and an elbow, and cuts to to his face.
Mr Brewer-Joyce suffered a traumatic dislocation of his right hip, a ligament rupture of his left knee and cuts to his left leg and right forearm.
Goh had drugs, including methylamphetamine, in her system at the time and a medical report concluded her level of intoxication made her incapable of controlling a car.
The mother of one told a psychiatrist she could not remember what happened because she had been knocked unconscious and suffered from amnesia.
Judge Mark Herron described Goh as “an accident waiting to happen” and said she should have known she was not fit to drive after she consumed meth the night before.
“You drove while you were unable to concentrate and maintain control over the vehicle,” he said.
Cause of the Collision
“The cause of the collision is directly linked to your consumption of methylamphetamine.
“You made the foolish and selfish decision to drive when you were still under the effect of methylamphetamine, thereby putting the lives and safety of other road users at risk.”
‘Each of the victims were trapped for some time in their vehicles. Clearly, it would have been psychologically traumatising.’
Referring to the victim impact statements, Judge Herron noted Mr Brewer-Joyce suffered ongoing pain and Mr MacLean had spent two months in hospital.
“Each of the victims were trapped for some time in their vehicles. Clearly, it would have been psychologically traumatising,” he said.
Goh must spend at least 20 months behind bars before she can be eligible for parole.