The ACT Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Michelle Deanne Milward, 23, had no recollection of the crash on Isabella Drive in Monash that left another driver with permanent injuries.

But witnesses to the accident said they saw Milward's silver Holden Astra lose control and hit a barrier on the side of Isabella Drive, between Clive Steele Avenue and Cockcroft Avenue, as she drove to work just after 7.40am on March 31.

The car then veered on to the wrong side of the road and smashed head-on into a Hyundai Excel being driven by Lauren Dawson, with the impact destroying both vehicles.

Both women had to be cut from their cars by the ACT Fire Brigade and Milward, 23 was treated for minor injuries.

But the 26-year-old victim, who was also on her way to work when the crash occurred, suffered multiple facial fractures, pelvic fractures, dental injuries and a brain haemorrhage.

She was placed in a medically induced coma for four days and spent a further three weeks in Canberra Hospital.

A victim impact statement tendered to the court said that Ms Dawson had to have titanium plates surgically inserted into her face, had endured two bouts of dental surgery and had not regained the full use of her lower body.

She also wrote that she was being treated by a psychologist for depression and anxiety as a result of the crash, that she had not been able to return to full-time work and that she feared she would never regain the life she had before.

Milward pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and Chief Magistrate Ron Cahill told the Wanniassa woman yesterday that the offence warranted a conviction and suspended sentence.

''This young lady has in my view, committed a very serious offence, an offence which has had disastrous consequences,'' Mr Cahill said.

He sentenced Milward to nine months in prison, wholly suspended, 200 hours community service and cancelled her licence for six months while noting that she was very unlikely to come before the courts again.

''This case demonstrates that a momentary lapse of concentration can lead to such tragedy,'' he said.