Arabic version: سجن سائق بسبب حادث كاريمبا المميت

According to ABC News, Lance O’Brien has been sentenced to eight years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to culpable driving causing the death of Nathalia mother of four Vilia Sutherland.

O’Brien, 31, will be required to serve at least five years and can apply for parole in December 2031. He had already served 26 days of the sentence. Judge Carolene Gwynn sentenced him at the Melbourne County Court, where he appeared by video link from Loddon Precinct Prison.

The court heard O’Brien’s Toyota was travelling north on Barmah-Shepparton Road at Kaarimba at 4:40pm on October 2, 2025, when it crossed into the lane used by Ms Sutherland. She died at the scene.

O’Brien was drug-affected and on bail at the time, awaiting an appeal against a jail sentence for other offences including burglary and intentionally causing injury. He was travelling to report to police as required by his bail conditions. He also pleaded guilty to contravening bail conditions.

Judge Gwynn referred to victim impact statements from Ms Sutherland’s family, including her daughter Tammy Woods, and said the consequences of the death would endure longer than the sentence imposed. O’Brien was also fined $1,200 for offending while on bail and disqualified from driving for five years.