Prison sentence overturned for Halls Head mother who lost twin daughters in tragic crash

A Halls Head mother who was sentenced to prison over a crash that killed her twin daughters has successfully appealed the decision.

In March, Rachel van Oyen was ordered to serve an immediate prison term of two months with the remaining six months suspended, over the deaths of her seven-year-old girls Macey and Riley.

Ms Van Oyen argued the prison term was manifestly excessive and on Tuesday the WA Supreme Court overturned her sentence and instead re-sentenced her to eight months imprisonment, suspended for nine months.

The fatal crash happened in February 2024 when Ms van Oyen and her daughters were driving back to Mandurah after visiting family in Kalgoorlie.

The 32-year-old closed her eyes for a split second before veering off the Great Eastern Highway in Carrabin and colliding with a tree.

Her daughters, who were wearing seatbelts, were thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.

Police found she was not speeding, had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs and was not fatigued at the time of the crash.

Speaking to 9News after Tuesday's successful appeal, Ms van Oyen said she was relieved.

"A weight lifted, I could breathe, and in my mind it was more thanking my girls, because I know they're watching over me somehow," she told 9News.

"They were my best friends, they weren't just my daughters, they were everything.

"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.

"It's something I have to live with and that's something I have flashbacks with every day."

Ms van Oyen said she is taking one day at a time.

"I'm struggling, I'm still learning how to deal with anxiety and the PTSD, but I will get there," she told 9News.