Mother charged over Canning Vale crash that killed four-year-old Layna Leavy

A mother is facing multiple charges over a crash that killed her four-year-old daughter in Western Australia.

Saoirse Wynne, 33, is accused of failing to properly secure four-year-old Layna Leavy, before their hatchback collided with an orange Mustang at the intersection of Garden St and Boardman Rd in Canning Vale, in Perth ’s south, on June 3.

The Southern River mother survived the crash, as did her eight-year-old son who was also a passenger in the car.

But the family was plunged into “overwhelming grief” when Layna died of her crash injuries in hospital, according to a GoFundMe organised to support the family. “No words can describe the depth of this loss,” the fundraiser states.

Wynne said in a family statement last year: ”Our hearts are shattered into a million pieces. Four years on this Earth was never long enough. I hope you felt nothing but love in your life and loved every single adventure we went on.”

“I hope you continue to sing and dance in the sky and forever in our hearts.”

Layna and her family had migrated from Ireland to start a new life in Perth just two years earlier.

“In less than two years, Layna had already woven herself into the hearts of so many, here in Australia, and across the community they had left behind in Ireland,” the fundraiser said.

She was charged with one count of careless driving causing death, one count of careless driving causing grievous bodily harm or bodily harm, and one count of no authority to drive (never held).

Wynne was also charged with one count of driver fail to ensure passenger aged four years to under seven years was restrained in an approved child restraint or booster seat.