Jessica Glennie sentenced over Diggers Rest crash that killed best friend Janelle Noonan-Long
A young mother who killed her best friend in a horrific car crash has walked free after facing an uproar in court over the devastating impact her actions had on the victim’s loved ones.
Janelle Noonan-Long, 22, was killed when Jessica Glennie lost control of her car and crashed into a concrete pole on Plumpton Rd in Diggers Rest, about 40km northwest of Melbourne, in September 2021.
Glennie was captured on CCTV drinking a shot of alcohol 45 minutes before the incident.
Blood samples showed she had been driving with cannabis in her system and driving with a suspended probationary license.
Glennie, 24, appeared in the Victorian County Court on Friday and wiped away tears as Judge Peter Lauristen made a two-and-a-half-year community corrections order.
Janelle Noonan-Long (pictured) was killed when her best friend lost control of her car and crashed into a pole in September 2021
Young mother Jessica Glennie (pictured) broke down in court on Friday when she learned her fate
The judge also spoke of the “huge effect” Ms Noonan-Long’s death had had on her partner Taylah Modrich and other loved ones.
In a victim impact statement, Modrich said that due to the extent of the injuries Ms Noonan-Long suffered in the crash, an open casket viewing could not take place, which ultimately “deprived her of a sense of closure”.
The court was told that the ‘pain, grief and stress’ of losing her partner had taken a significant toll on Ms Modrich’s wellbeing and had caused her to lose all ‘confidence in vehicle safety’.
Ms Modrich also told the court she was left with a “deep-seated fear and paranoia of losing loved ones”.
In another victim impact statement, Ms Noonan-Long’s father, Adam Scott Long, said his daughter’s death left him unable to work for three months and left him suffering from ‘severe anxiety’.
Mr Long said he struggled to go outside after the incident.
Glennie also suffered serious injuries in the crash and required spinal fusion in three separate places. She is in significant pain for the ‘foreseeable future’ and lives with a brain injury.
Taylah Modrich (pictured left with partner Janelle) is left with a “deep-seated fear and paranoia of losing loved ones” after the death of her partner
“Your injuries have left you significantly disabled and in significant pain for a lifetime,” Judge Lauristen told Glennie.
In June 2023, the young mother pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Judge Lauristen said Glennie’s decision to get behind the wheel was “highly irresponsible” but noted her obvious remorse for causing the death of her best friend.
“I accept that you are deeply sorry for what happened,” Judge Lauristen said.
“Your counsel has identified your injuries as a form of punishment, and so they are.”
Under the community corrections order, Glennie will be banned from obtaining a license for two and a half years and will have to undergo treatment for her drug and alcohol abuse and mental health.
Glennie was also disqualified from driving for a further six months and fined $400 for the charge of driving with drugs in her system.
She hugged her loved ones as she left the court.
Jessica Glennie shielded her face as she left court flanked by loved ones after she was given a community corrections order