A Gold Coast woman has been jailed almost two years to the day after she caused a car crash which killed her younger sister.

Candice Lee Chmieluk, 31, received a five-year prison sentence at the Southport District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol.

The mother of two will however spend three months in jail before her sentence is suspended for five years.

Candice Chmieluk at Southport Magistrates court. (AAP) (AAP)

The court heard Chimeluk had been celebrating a proposed new business venture with younger sister Sammy-Jo at the Currumbin Vikings surf lifesaving club on May 29, 2016.

Despite patrons and club staff attempting to stop the pair leaving, Chimeluk got behind the wheel at approximately 5.30pm to take the pair home.

In a two kilometre journey Chmieluk hit road signs, mounted kerbs and left the road before finally slamming the SUV she was driving into a traffic light on the Gold Coast Highway at Palm Beach.

The impact tore the car in half, sending debris over 100m down the road.

Chmieluk was dragged from her wrecked section of the car by an onlooker as it burst into flames while her younger sister was killed instantly by the impact.

A blood sample taken later that evening from Chmieluk returned a blood alcohol level of 0.202 - more than four times the legal limit.

Chmieluk's relatives described how the traumatic event had "ripped the family apart" while the police investigation and subsequent court case had forced them to put their grief on hold.

Despite that trauma, Chmieluk's family made emotional pleas to Judge David Kent for her to avoid jail time for the offence.

Elder sister Kristy Chmieluk said she'd been angry at Candice for "about five seconds" but had since forgiven her and been impressed by her remorse and attempts at rehabilitation.

"The last two years have been horrible," Kristy said.

"I know Candice will never forgive herself ... she's not had one joyful moment since her offending.

"Candice has been given a life sentence by her behaviour ... the past two years has been worse than any sentence the court could impose on her."

Judge Kent agreed Chmieluk would suffer the physical and psychological impacts of the crash for the "rest of her days".

But he said the fact she was suspended from driving due to demerit point accumulation at the time of the crash, her drunkenness and the sheer devastation of the impact warranted a jail term.

"At the end of the day you should have to serve a minimal amount of imprisonment," Judge Kent said, adding a wholly suspended sentence would be "manifestly inadequate".

Chmieluk has also been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of five years.