A year and a half into coping with this loss, she faced a potential return to jail today.
But instead she won her appeal and was allowed to go back home to Mandurah where she raised her two little girls.Â
“It felt like a burden lifted, and I could finally breathe. I mentally thanked my girls because I believe they’re watching over me,” she shared in an exclusive with 9News.
The 32-year-old initially received an eight-month jail sentence for careless driving causing death, with an immediate two-month term in March. She was released on bail two days later while appealing her “manifestly excessive” sentence.
“I was not prepared for that at all, very numbing, very crushing,” the mother said.
The crash in February last year claimed the life of her seven-year old twin daughters, Riley and Macey.
“They were my best friends, they weren’t just my daughters, they were everything,” she said.
The incident occurred when the mother momentarily closed her eyes, lost control, and struck a tree along the Great Eastern Highway near Carrabin, located between Perth and Kalgoorlie.
Police ruled out fatigue and distraction.Â
“It was still me who closed her eyes for a second or two and not being able to correct, and the tree being there within a moment,” she said.
“It’s something I have to live with and that’s something I have flashbacks with every day.”
Her two girls were flung from the vehicle and didn’t survive.
“Both of them were so creative and artistic and thats been a part of my healing is doing arts and crafts,” Van Oyen said.
After she’s had time to rest, recover and honour her girls, Van Oyen wants to help other parents deal with their grief.
But for now, she just wants to grieve her girls.
“I’m struggling, I’m still learning how to deal with anxiety and the PTSD, but I will get there,” she said.
“I know not to ignore it now.”
