'Cowgirl', 21, avoids jail after causing a head-on smash that killed a driver - as it's revealed she had to have an abortion after the horror collision
- Chelsea Rickel Sheahan, 21, dangerously overtook a truck in June last year
- She crashed into an oncoming Commodore, killing the 23-year-old man driving
- Sheahan pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death
- She was sentenced to two years jail wholly suspended, so she won't be locked up
A 'cowgirl' who caused a crash that killed a 23-year-old man has avoided jail time because she is 'a good person'.
Chelsea Rickel Sheahan, 21, was driving north behind a truck on a road in Llanarth, four hours west of Mackay in Queensland, on June 6 last year when tragedy struck.
At 7:30pm, Sheahan attempted to overtake the 36.5 metre Mack truck towing two trailers on a left hand bend with broken lines.
But she crashed head-on with a Commodore travelling south in the opposite lane, killing the driver, who was a 23-year-old man.
Sheahan was sentenced to to two years' jail wholly suspended after pleading guilty at Townsville District Court on Tuesday, according to the Townsville Bulletin.
Ingham woman Chelsea Rickel Sheahan (pictured), 21, crashed into an oncoming Commodore while trying to overtake a truck on Gregory Development Road in Llnarth, four hours west of Mackay, on June 6 last year
Crown prosecutor Amanda Payne said Sheahan and the Commodore driver never saw each other before they crashed as there were no brake marks on the road.
Police and ambulance crews arrived to the crash scene at 9pm on the night of the tragic accident.
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The Commodore driver was pronounced dead at the scene while Sheahan was left with major injuries.
The 21 year old was found to have no alcohol or drugs in her system.
Sheahan was later forced to terminate her early pregnancy due to treatment for injuries sustained in the crash.
Sheahan and her partner Tim. After Sheahan crashed into the Commodore, the driver, who was a 23-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene
Sheahan pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.
She 'always wanted to be a cowgirl' and the crash was a 'misjudgment', according to defence barrister Kelly Stone.
The young woman was supported by family and friends in court while the Commodore driver's family listened via telephone from Sydney.
Judge John Coker said he found it difficult to find an appropriate punishment for Sheahan since it was a 'tragic accident'.
'This is offending that can happen in a wink of an eye and it is offending that can occur by every single one of us in our community,' he said, according to the Bulletin.
Sheahan and Tim. Sheahan was left with major injuries after the crash that forced her to terminate her early pregnancy due to treatment
'I am mindful of the tragedy that has befallen the family… as a result of him doing absolutely nothing other than going about his proper and lawful business.
'You are a good person… you are, in all respects, other than a momentary lapse in June 2019, the sort of person we want within our community.'
The judge sentenced Sheahan to two years' jail wholly suspended with an operational period of three years.
During the operational period, Sheahan must not commit another offence punishable by imprisonment.
She was also disqualified from holding a driver's license for 18 months.
Sheahan and her dog pose with a dead boar in the back of a ute. The judge sentenced Sheahan to two years' jail wholly suspended with an operational period of three years
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