A woman who was using her mobile phone as she drove to a hairdresser appointment before fatally striking a cyclist at Perth’s Kings Park has been jailed for three years.

Curtin University associate professor Paola Ferroni, 70, died in hospital four days after she was hit by Joanne Leigh Lawrence’s four-wheel-drive, which was travelling at about 60km/h, in November 2014.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and cried during sentencing in the West Australian district court on Friday.

Her lawyer Gary Massey submitted that his client had been looking at roses on a median strip at the time of the collision.

But prosecutor Bradley Hollingsworth said Lawrence, 42, had been sending text messages and making phone calls illegally before the crash and her inattention must have been prolonged because another driver behind her could see Ferroni.

Judge Richard Keen found the story about the roses was an attempt to minimise Lawrence’s culpability.

The victim was wearing a high-vis top and helmet, but was thrown into the air on impact with the front bumper.

Lawrence repeatedly said “I’ve killed someone” after the crash, the court was told.

Massey said his client had a history of mental health problems and her decision-making was impaired at the time of the crash.

“Ms Lawrence accepts that her actions have caused irreparable harm,” he said. “She accepts that there is nothing she can do or say ... [to] bring back Dr Ferroni.

“The only thing she can do is make amends.”

Keen said there was an enormous amount of carnage on the roads and deterrence was important.

He said Ferroni’s death was a loss to the community and referred to its effects on her family and partner.

Keen accepted that Lawrence had genuine grief, was remorseful and empathetic, and was of previous good character.

Lawrence will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months behind bars. She was disqualified from driving for three years.