Sukhwant Sodhi has been convicted, and will be placed on a Community Correction Order for a period of three years with the condition that he undertakes 200 hours of unpaid community work. The Country Court of Victoria ordered the sentencing earlier this month.
His licence will be cancelled he will be disqualified from obtaining a licence for a minimum term of 18 months.
The judge said Sodhi had paid a high personal price for his momentary misjudgement and he will live with the consequences of his actions forever.
"You fully understand the wrongfulness of your actions and the offending and its impact upon the victims. You are conducting yourself in a manner that supports both your brother and the children of the deceased in a very meaningful way," Judge Lawson said.
Sodhi and his family were returning to Melbourne after attending an event in Sydney when the fatal accident occurred on October 8, 2017. His car collided with a tree while he was attempting to negotiate a tight left curve near the Balmattum rest area south of Shepparton.
As a result of the collision, Sodhi's wife Gurpreet and sister-in-law, Harminder suffered serious injuries. Harminder succumbed to her injuries a month later.
Mr Sodhi, who was 48 at the time of the accident, was charged with one charge of dangerous driving causing death and one charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury.
He pleaded guilty to both.
The Court accepted that Sodhi, who migrated to Australia in 2014, is held in high regard.
"You are considered to be a very honest, responsible, religious family man, who holds positive life values, who is generous and kind to others and always willing to assist in any way that you can," Judge Lawson said adding,
"Your plea is an indication of the acceptance of responsibility on your behalf and your willingness to facilitate justice."
Sodhi lives with his wife and two children, and has since taken on responsibility for the care of his sister-in-law's two children as well.
