After all, he was driving with a suspended licence, and had been drinking before getting in the driver's seat.

But what he did next would pale in comparison to the errors he'd already made that day.

In the blink of an eye, Wood ran up the back of another car, setting in motion a three car accident that injured nine people and, most tragically, caused the death of Tayla Brown's unborn child.

The 18-year-old had been a rear seat passenger in Wood’s car after he'd offered her a lift down the coast to visit a friend.

The impact of the crash was so great, despite receiving immediate medical attention, doctors couldn't save the 26-week foetus.

The tragic story had its conclusion on Wednesday in Nowra Local Court, when Wood, 33, of  Nethercote, north west of Eden, was sentenced to seven-months’ jail, with a non-parole period of two months, and disqualified from driving for three years.

He pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving while suspended.

Wood was travelling south on the highway in a silver Mazda 323, with three passengers, including Ms Brown.

The court heard he came upon a build up of traffic two kilometres north of the Berry township, failed to slow down and was forced to brake “harshly”.

His vehicle collided with the rear of another Mazda in front of him containing two women, before crossing to the incorrect side of the road and hitting an oncoming Commodore in which two women and three children were travelling.

Magistrate Gabriel Fleming described the incident as an “overwhelming tragedy”.

“A moment of inattention caused a serious collision,” she said.

“It was a clear day but with heavy traffic. There is nothing in the facts or mentioned about observations of erratic driving and the car was not found to be faulty.

“There was a degree of negligence - inattention and that resulted in the collision.

“It caused a catastrophic result. And the defendant was driving while suspended. You had lost your licence due to the loss of demerit points.”

She said Wood’s traffic record was “mediocre”  and “showed an ongoing disregard for traffic and road rules.”

“An issue raised in the facts was that you were breath tested at the scene which police said returned a positive reading. At hospital you left before further testing could be undertaken,” Magistrate Fleming said.

“The court can’t draw the inference you were affected by alcohol. You told community corrections staff you had two mixed drinks on the day.

“The impact on the victim is aggravated. Tayla Brown was looking forward to welcoming a baby, instead the serious abdominal injuries meant the baby was born not breathing.

“There has been great impact on the mother.”

She said Wood had indicated he wanted to seek counselling and help but as yet had not done so.

“The punishment must fit the crime. In driving matters we must send a strong message to the community,” Magistrate Fleming said.

“You were driving a motor vehicle with three passengers. You have the care of three people in your hands.”

Outside court Ms Brown’s distraught mother Toni couldn’t believe the sentence.

“Two months for killing a child,” she said.

“We got the life sentence.

“I can’t believe this. It’s ridiculous.

“Letariah would be five-months-old today. What is the world coming too?

“We want Letariah to be recognised. We will take it further.”