Storm Cecilia Tientjes had been awake all night in the south-east town of Dunalley when she decided to get behind the wheel of a car to attempt a one-hour drive to northern Hobart, a court has heard.
A bystander described Tientjes' eyes as glazed, and that she was zoned out, unaware and confused, and could not drive in a straight line as she set off on the Arthur Highway.
It was the morning of Good Friday 2023, and she had a friend and an infant in the car with her.
She has never held a driver's licence, the car was unregistered and it had stolen number plates.
Tientjes, 29, briefly filmed herself on Snapchat smoking cannabis in the driver's seat, before fishtailing the car in gravel while saying: "This is what I was doing in f***ing Bridgey."
"Everyone was so mad."
The judge said the presence of a baby in the car "should have reminded [Tientjes] of the fragility of life". (Supplied: Facebook)
The friend in the car described Tientjes as looking "dead tired", and she pulled over to walk around for 10 minutes before setting off again on the busy tourist highway.
At the same time, Shadari Athrey and her husband had set off from the nearby beach town of Primrose Sands, on holiday from Queensland.
At 9.20am, Tientjes fell asleep behind the wheel, drifted onto the wrong side of the road, and hit an oncoming car, instantly killing the passenger, Ms Athrey.
As emergency services attended, Tientjes told police that a "Sam", who had fled the scene, had been driving. A police manhunt ensued.
She eventually admitted to police that she was the driver, the court heard.
She was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, drug driving, drug possession, smoking in a vehicle with a child present, and other summary offences.
Shadari Athrey was on holiday with her husband in Tasmania when she was killed in the incident. (Linkedin)
No brakes applied
The court heard Tientjes refused a blood test, but later tested positive to cannabis and methylamphetamine.
The police investigation showed that she had not applied the brakes prior to the crash, and it was agreed that she was asleep at the time.
They found the Snapchat videos on her phone, the court heard.
Justice Helen Wood said all drivers on the Arthur Highway at the time had been at risk from Tientjes' actions.
"She represented an ever-present risk of inattention or falling asleep at every moment she was behind the wheel," Justice Wood told the court.
"It was Good Friday and motorists were expected to be on that section of road, and indeed were present.
"The presence … of a baby should have reminded her of the fragility of life."
'Genuine remorse'
The court heard Tientjes headbutted a female police officer the day after the crash, resulting in a three-month jail term.
She was later released on bail but committed further offences, and has been in custody since January.
Justice Wood described Tientjes as having endured a difficult life, including becoming a mother at age 16, and experiencing extreme abuse and violence at the hands of men, resulting in a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tientjes has already served 317 days in custody and will be eligible for parole in August. (Supplied: Facebook)
Justice Wood said Tientjes had shown "genuine remorse", expressed a desire to reform her life, re-establish contact with her child, and to begin studies.
"[The sentence] must reflect the sanctity of human life and the terrible harm that has been caused," she said.
Tientjes was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' jail with a 21-month non-parole period.
She has already served 317 days in custody and will be eligible for parole in August.
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