Drug-addled mother, 30, who was high on cannabis when her car rolled is jailed over the death of her 18-month-old son who was thrown from the vehicle
- Nadia Khan was tired, speeding and high when she lost control of her car in 2018
- Paramedics found her 18-month-old son dead at the scene after car rolled
- She was sentenced to two years, a month and 17 days in prison after guilty plea
A South Australian woman whose young son was killed when her car rolled multiple times at high speed has been jailed for just over two years.
Nadia Khan was tired, speeding and under the influence of cannabis when she lost control of the vehicle at Mount Eba, in the state's far north, in January 2018.
Paramedics found her 18-month-old son dead at the scene, while the 30-year-old was also injured in the crash.
Nadia Khan was tired, speeding and under the influence of cannabis when she lost control of the vehicle at Mount Eba, in the state's far north, in January 2018
Sentencing her in the District Court on Tuesday, Judge Paul Slattery said the boy was not properly restrained in his child seat and the seat was not properly anchored to the car.
As it rolled, he was thrown from the vehicle with his body found several metres away.
Khan had been driving to South Australia's indigenous APY Lands to visit family and intended to sleep at Port Augusta, but smoked cannabis and continued with her journey.
She and her son slept in the car for a short time and later stopped for food and petrol in the lead-up to the crash.
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Judge Slattery described Khan's offending as very serious.
'You were observed at a time prior to the collision overtaking another vehicle at excessive speed,' the judge said.
'Your driving on that day was reckless, it was dangerous and that was particularly so given that your infant was not properly restrained in the seat that was not properly anchored to the car.'
Defence counsel Michael Lutt previously told the court that Khan was distraught after the incident and deeply regretted her actions as he asked for a suspended or home detention sentence.
Paramedics found her 18-month-old son dead at the scene, while the 30-year-old was also injured in the crash (stock)
But Judge Slattery said the offending was too serious and no sentence could properly do justice for the death of the boy and the pain, anger and heartache caused to her family and friends.
Khan had pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of causing death by dangerous driving, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The judge imposed a head sentence of two years, one month and 17 days with a non-parole period of one year, eight months and six days.
He also banned Khan from driving for 11 years, with the suspension to start after her release.
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