May 17, 2021
A Loganlea man charged after a fatal crash at Durong in August 2019 has been sentenced to 18 months’ jail.
Aaron John Mannell was charged with drug driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death after his partner, Sabrina Monique Strasberger, 26, was killed in a fiery crash on Chinchilla-Wondai Road on August 10, 2019.
Maroochydore District Court heard Mannell was part of a convoy of four vehicles heading for a camping trip when the incident occurred.
Family members travelling in other vehicles witnessed the crash.
The court was told Mannell had been looking at his fiance, who was breastfeeding their 18-month-old son, when he swerved to miss a dead wallaby lying in the middle of the road.
His vehicle veered off the road, hit a raised property entrance, rolled and burst into flames.
Mannell, who also suffered severe burns in the crash, was sentenced in Maroochydore District Court on Friday.
On the drug driving charge, he was convicted and disqualified from driving for three months.
On the charge of dangerous driving causing death, he was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and disqualified for 12 months.
Judge Nicole Kefford set an immediate parole eligibility date of May 14.
Mannell is currently in jail for unrelated offences.
- Related article: Woman Dies After Fiery Crash
