Kylie Jane Ryan had taken methamphetamine, or speed, before she lost control and crashed her car into another utility on the New England Highway between Bendemeer and Uralla, on October 12, 2015.

Ryan’s southbound yellow sedan hit the Mitsubishi Triton in front of her, careering it out of control, before it struck a tree, and a branch fell on top of it.

The 56-year-old female passenger in the ute suffered internal bleeding on the brain, a broken pelvis, rib and tooth. Luckily, the driver of the utility and Ryan were not seriously injured.

But blood tests taken while the now-44-year-old was in hospital showed a 0.13 level of speed in her system.

Ryan initially denied the dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm charge against her but eventually pleaded guilty before the hearing.

She claims she suffered an epileptic fit but Magistrate Roger Prowse said it was “unsubstantiated” because there was no medical evidence to back the claim.

“Ms Ryan can give that evidence,”  solicitor Jessica Caligiore said.

“There was no one else there to witness that.”

Ryan wrote a letter of apology to the victim as well as Tamworth court this week, but Ms Caligiore conceded the threshold for a jail term had been crossed.

“It’s a serious charge,” she said.

The court heard Ryan wasn’t suitable for community-based jail terms like an intensive corrections order (ICO) because she had moved to Adelaide to live with family. 

“She’s not eligible for an ICO,” Mr Prowse said. “No evidence given by her would change that.”

Ms Caligiore said Ryan already had somewhere she could stay in NSW.

“She will move back immediately,” she said.

“She is a person who does positively contribute to the community.”

Ryan, who is suspended from driving, will be assessed for an ICO and sentenced later this month.