Lavington man Robert Graham Wilson, 42, was driving west on the Riverina Highway about 9.40am on March 21 last year.

He was travelling at 95 km/h and believed there was an object rolling around the floor at his feet.

Wilson took his eyes off the road briefly, veered towards the road centre and hit a car coming the other way near Bungowannah.

The woman driver was trapped by her lower legs and it took 50 minutes for rescue workers to release her.

She was flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne where a series of operations were performed.

Magistrate Tony Murray was provided with information in Albury Local Court yesterday that the woman suffered a dislocated right elbow, right shoulder injury, fractured right ankle, a pelvic fracture, broken right ribs, a collapsed lung, ruptured spinal discs and a knee injury required an operation, pins and skin grafts.

Wilson appeared for sentence on a charge of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Solicitor Mark Cronin said Wilson rendered assistance to the other driver immediately after the accident.

“My client is genuinely remorseful about the incident,” Mr Cronin said.

He said Wilson needs his driver’s licence for a contracting business.

Mr Murray said the collision impact point was on Wilson’s wrong side of the road.

He said the delay in sentencing had been to ascertain the extent of the other driver’s injuries and she has had 15 operations.

The injuries were substantial and she will have on-going problems for the rest of her life with a diminished ability to function.

Mr Murray said statistics showed there have been more than 1000 cases between 2007 and 2011 for the same offence with just five people jailed.

“He is genuinely contrite about the offence,” Mr Murray said.

“The court has heard of his great need for a licence.”

Wilson was convicted, put on a two-year bond, fined $800 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.