Mother sentenced for crash that killed twin daughters

A mother in Western Australia has been sentenced to jail after her twin daughters died in a car crash. Rachel Van Oyen, 32, pleaded guilty to careless driving, which resulted in the deaths of her seven-year-old daughters, Macey and Riley. The crash happened in February while Van Oyen was driving home after a family wedding. She swerved to avoid a roadside marker, causing her car to skid and flip. The court heard both girls were ejected from the vehicle, and one of them died at the scene. Van Oyen's lawyer spoke of the tragedy, saying she had only momentarily closed her eyes when the crash occurred. The court was informed that everyone in the car was wearing seatbelts and that fatigue was not a factor. On Wednesday, the magistrate sentenced Van Oyen to eight months in jail for each count, leading to a total of two months of actual jail time, followed by a six-month conditional suspended sentence. The remaining time of her sentence is also suspended for twelve months. Outside the court, the children's father expressed grief, stating that nothing could bring the girls back. He noted that if they had been in appropriate car seats, the outcome might have been different. In the aftermath of the crash, Van Oyen shared her feelings of overwhelming pain and loss. She felt that her world had fallen apart and expressed deep sorrow for her daughters. The community has mourned the loss of the girls, describing them as joyful and vibrant. A crowdfunding page has been set up to support Van Oyen, raising over $53,000.