Woman sentenced after driving her car off a cliff at Newcastle beach, hitting woman on the sand below
A woman who drove her car 30 metres off a cliff at a busy Newcastle beach in September last year has not been jailed.
Today, Newcastle Local Court heard the 48-year-old was seen driving around in circles in the car park of Bar Beach, moments before she sped off about 80km/h, travelled through a fence, and over the edge.
The car landed in the water where a woman was swimming with her 18-month old child.
The mother was struck and seriously injured while the baby narrowly avoided being hit.
In sentencing, the Magistrate noted the woman was genuinely remorseful for her actions, and took into account the seriousness of the offence along with her mental illness.
She was handed a 15-month intensive corrections order, and must comply with a number of strict conditions.
