A WOMAN accused of causing a crash that killed her six-year-old nephew at East Seaham in July was allegedly more than three times over the legal blood alcohol limit, court documents reveal.
The woman, 30, was represented by solicitor Mark Hanlon when she appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday charged with aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death and high-range drink driving.
The woman, who the Newcastle Herald has chosen not to name to avoid identifying the young boy, did not enter any pleas and the matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on February 12.
The woman was allegedly behind the wheel of a Mazda 3 that was heading north on Newline Road, East Seaham, about 5.50pm on July 21 when the vehicle left the road, hit a power pole and rolled.
The woman, from Raymond Terrace, and a three-year-old girl in the rear passenger seat both suffered facial lacerations and were taken to John Hunter Hospital.
A boy, 6, also in the backseat, died at the scene.
An online fundraising campaign raised more than $3000 for the young boy's family. "[The young boy] was beautiful, loving, courageous, cheeky and adventurous," the post on the fundraising page says. "These characteristics were evident through the happiness he would instill in those around him."
Officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit examined the scene and, after an extensive investigation, the woman was arrested at Raymond Terrace police station on August 6 and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.
She was granted conditional bail by police, but at her first court appearance investigators charged the woman with aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail, after the results of a blood test revealed she had a blood alcohol reading of 0.153, more than three times over the limit.
The woman was also charged with an additional count of dangerous driving occasioning death, due to her alleged level of intoxication, and high-range drink driving.
According to a police bail determination form, the woman allegedly "made admissions to the offences".
The woman was allegedly distracted and looked over her shoulder into the backseat before the car left the road and crashed.
Meanwhile, a woman, 31, has been charged with high-range after she was spotted driving erratically at Jesmond on Saturday night.
The woman allegedly exited the car with an unrestrained infant in her arms.
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