The father of a young Queensland woman who was hit and killed by a "careless" driver has described the man's suspended sentence as "absolutely inadequate".

Aashish Tiwari, 35, drove across an intersection in Brisbane's south in June, hitting another car and 27-year-old interior designer and fitness model Yasmin Angelika McAllister as she crossed the road.

Tiwari pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention and was handed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

It is one of several recent cases in Queensland in which a driver involved in a fatal crash has not faced the more serious charge of dangerous driving causing death, sparking a campaign for harsher penalties for the more minor charge.

Outside court Ms McAllister's father Glynn Harnell said he was "pissed off".

Tiwari told the media he was sorry and planned on writing to the victim's family to apologise.

Ms McAllister's father Glynn Harnell and grandmother Lucy Harnell outside Holland Park Courthouse. ( ABC News: Isobel Roe )

Tiwari 'took a punt'

Magistrate Barry Cosgrove said the incident was at the "extreme end" of the driving without due care offence.

"I do not sentence you on the harm caused but rather on the conduct that led to that harm," he said.

"A prudent driver in my view would not have continued across the intersection not being able to see if it was safe to do so.

"You took a punt."

Mr Harnell wept as he read a victim impact statement in Holland Park Magistrates Court, detailing the heartbreak his family has suffered and his anger at the charge.

"I have come to feel disappointed and let down by the people who are supposed to protect society, to protect the little people ... people like us," he said.

"I will never in this life forget holding her arm when the life support was turned off."

Ms McAllister was crossing the street when she was struck by the car. ( Instagram: @yasminangelika )

The court heard Tiwari was driving to work on June 14 this year when he stopped at a give way sign at the intersection of Thomas and Samuel streets to look left and right before accelerating across the road.

He crossed the westbound lane but did not see a station wagon heading east and drove into its path, giving the other driver no time to act.

Ms McAllister, who had recently been married, was crossing the street when the force of the crash pushed Tiwari's car into her.



She sustained head injuries and was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital where she died the next day.

Prosecutors wanted him jailed

Police prosecutor Carmel Massingham said the "recklessness and carelessness" of Tiwari's actions warranted jail time.

"Failure to keep a proper look out caused the collision between the vehicles," she said.

"He'd been in Australia some 14 or 15 months before the collision."

Tiwari had only held an open license for six months before the crash.

Aashish Tiwari told media outside Holland Park Courthouse he was sorry. ( ABC News: Isobel Roe )

Ms Massingham told the court neither driver was speeding but one witness said Tiwari appeared to accelerate across the intersection, "as if the driver planted his foot to get across".

Tiwari's lawyer Max Russ told the court his client was "beckoned" across the westbound lane by another driver.

"He [Tiwari] believed it was okay to drive through," Mr Russ said.

He said Tiwari was driving "conscientiously" and was not distracted, tired, driving under the influence of alcohol or using a phone.

Earlier this year, the Queensland Government outlined a plan to double penalties for careless driving after a campaign by crash victims' families, including the Harnells, and recommendations by a coroner.