Driver who killed unborn child in crash fronts court

A Victorian drug-addled driver responsible for killing a woman’s unborn child when he ploughed into her vehicle has faced court.

Ballarat North mother Mandy Davies was driving along the Midland Highway in Bannockburn when Shane Bausch ignored a give way sign and smashed into the driver’s side door of Ms Davies’ vehicle.

Bausch was under the influence of methamphetamine and a number of prescription drugs at the time of the collision on Easter Sunday in 2016.

The impact of the crash shattered a pregnant Ms Davies’ pelvis, liver and spleen, and broke her ribs and spine.

She was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where her 31 week unborn baby Shiloh was stillborn via emergency Caesarian.

“I vaguely remember paramedics saying they could not hear the heartbeat coming from the baby,” Ms Davies told the Geelong Law Court today.

“I knew deep down she was gone.”

The mother-of-two, along with her father Kevin, read their victim impact statements as the 58-year-old offender sat emotionless in the dock.

Ms Davies told the judge she has suffered anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in wake of the crash, which she said has changed her life forever.

Bausch's lawyer described him as a troubled person who grew up in the welfare system and lives with an acquired brain injury from a previous motor accident.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury, but has avoided a culpable driving charge because under Victorian law a foetus is not recognised as a child until it has taken a breath.

Shiloh's death was however recorded on the 2016 road toll, and her family is desperate to see legislative change that recognises her as a living being whose life was cut short.

“I just want someone to be held accountable for what’s happened,” Ms Davies told 9News outside court.

Bausch will be sentenced on March 6.