Yrsa Christoffersen, a 73-year-old grandmother, tragically lost her life in a car accident caused by Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith, 29, who was driving a stolen vehicle at high speed. The incident occurred on September 2023 while Yrsa was driving her daughter, Maria, to work. Stewart-Smith collided with their car, a Suzuki Swift, sending it airborne and resulting in Yrsa’s death while Maria sustained severe injuries.
In a recent Brisbane Supreme Court hearing, the devastation following the crash was highlighted by heartfelt victim impact statements read aloud by family members. Maria described the horrific awakening in the hospital, riddled with pain and questioning the whereabouts of her mother, grasping the grim reality through the doctors’ expressions.
Stewart-Smith was driving at speeds of up to 114 km/h in a 60 km/h zone when he struck the Christoffersens’ vehicle. After the collision, he fled the scene, attempting to explain to witnesses that the car was not his. He was later apprehended by the police, hiding in a storm drain and covered in mud.
The aftermath of the crash was harrowing for Yrsa’s family. Her daughter, Lorna, expressed her anguish in court, remarking on the gut-wrenching reality of her mother spending her holiday in a morgue and her sister enduring extensive injuries from the accident. Maria faced multiple fractures, including her jaw, ribs, and pelvis, alongside significant internal injuries. She struggled for months, losing weight and facing severe health challenges during her recovery.
Stewart-Smith had an extensive traffic record with 35 prior speeding offences since 2013. His defence attorney mentioned that he felt ashamed of his actions. Ultimately, Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty to several charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, grievous bodily harm, vehicle theft, drug possession, and possession of child exploitation material.
In addition to his reckless driving, police discovered methamphetamine and numerous images related to child exploitation on his phone during subsequent searches. Justice Tom Sullivan sentenced Stewart-Smith to eight-and-a-half years in prison for his severe misconduct. The case stands as a profound reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the tragic impacts on the lives of victims and their families.