In short:
45-year-old Nathalia mother of four Vilia Sutherland has been remembered as a selfless, beautiful woman as her heartbroken family recalled the fateful day she was killed by drunk driver last October.
Lance O'Brien, 31, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to culpable driving causing death and contravening bail conditions.
What's next?
The case will return to court later this month.
A loving mother of four has been remembered as a selfless woman who has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of her children and family after she was killed in a head-on crash at Kaarimba in Victoria's north.
October 2, 2025, was a Thursday like any other for 45-year-old Nathalia mother Vilia Sutherland.
That afternoon, Ms Sutherland had just purchased groceries and was heading home in her Renault Captur SUV with the family's three dogs, two border collies and a labrador, when tragedy struck.
About 4:40pm while heading north on the Barmah-Shepparton Road at Kaarimba, about 25 kilometres north of Shepparton, a Toyota Corolla driven by 31-year-old Nathalia man Lance O'Brien veered into her lane, crashing into her car.
Ms Sutherland died at the scene and one of the border collies was later euthanased after sustaining critical injuries.
The then 30-year-old P2 driver O'Brien was hospitalised with serious injuries as a result of the crash.
Subsequent blood analysis found O'Brien had a blood alcohol content of at least 1.43 and the drugs methamphetamine, amphetamine and nordiazepam in his system.
According to prosecution documents presented to the Shepparton County Court, Jason Schreiber from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine estimated O'Brien had a BAC more than three times the limit for fully licensed drivers, and possibly just below four times the limit.
The court heard after impact, O'Brien, who was trapped in his vehicle, asked a witness who had stopped to render assistance, "Did I kill someone?"
He then said, "I'm an idiot, I'm a f*****g idiot."
He was arrested on November 6, 2025, and charged with culpable driving causing death and contravening bail conditions.
On Wednesday he pleaded guilty to the charges.
'A huge hole in my heart'
Ms Sutherland's eldest sister Annie Koopmans addressed the court, recalling how her sister's death had broken her heart.
"My life has never been the same since that October day," she said.
"There's a huge hole in my heart and it hurts so much, my family is broken.
"I'm her eldest sister; it's my job to protect her and I failed to keep her safe."
Ms Sutherland's elder daughter Tammy Woods told the court she recalled receiving a notification alerting her to a crash while over 3,000 kilometres away in Darwin.
She said despite contacting emergency services she could not find out anything else about what had happened.
"I'd never known hopelessness until this," she said.
Eventually, she heard from a brother that their mother was in a crash and did not survive.
Ms Woods said despite several months now passing since the crash, life had become harder and she missed being able to share special moments with her mum.
"Our lives will never return to the way they were, for my family and it will always be life before October 2 and life after," she said.
She said she kept wondering if her mum had time to react or was frightened in her final moments.
Addressing O'Brien in court, she said he had taken so much away from the family.
"You took [away] the opportunities for her to grow old surrounded by the people who loved her," she said.
"The greatest heartbreak of my life is I regret I will hate that I hate you because even I can hear my mum saying that's such a strong word and not to use it."
Prosecutor Angela Liantzakis read out a statement from Tammy's younger sister Emily, who recalled turning 21 without her mum by her side.
"Every birthday I have after this one will be a reminder … every milestone I reach will have someone missing from it," she said.
She described her anger that her mother had been taken from her and said it impacted her sense of security and her outlook on life.
"I struggle to trust [that] people I love will be there tomorrow," she said.
"I feel guilty when I am happy, I have fear of phone calls after receiving a call from [my brother] … who said mum's been in an accident and didn't make it."
Speed a factor
The County Court heard O'Brien was on a P2 licence and was subject to a zero BAC condition.
He was also on bail at the time of offending with requirements not to drive a motor vehicle, consume alcohol or use a drug of dependence without lawful authorisation.
Prosecutor Angela Liantzakis told the court that analysis from the Collision Reconstruction Unit found O'Brien was driving at a minimum speed range of 115km/h -122km/h at the time of the crash.
During a Koori Court sentencing conversation, held in conjunction with Wednesday's hearing, O'Brien read from a statement saying how "deeply sorry" he was for the pain he had caused Ms Sutherland's family.
"I understand there's nothing I can do to undo the pain [from the] actions I have caused," he said.
The court heard he was "struggling" with drug and alcohol issues and recent trauma from losing two close relatives at the time of the crash.
"I know I can't change the past … I will carry away what has happened for the rest of my life," he said.
Judge Carolene Gwynn adjourned the matter for a further plea to appear in the Melbourne County Court later this month.
