A Victorian toddler cried out for "Bubba" from a car seat as they watched their grandmother die after a truck ploughed into them.
Truck driver Ellyas Bouras, 38, ran a red light and struck Nada Stoyanovski's car on January 10 this year, near Geelong.
Bouras has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faced a pre-sentence hearing in the County Court on Tuesday.
He claims he was distracted when he drove his 18-tonne truck through a red light at the intersection of Bacchus Marsh and Geelong Ring roads in Corio.
Ms Stoyanovski, 64, was turning right when her Toyota corolla was hit by the truck, with her small grandchild in the back passenger seat.
The car spun and landed on a median strip. Bouras got out of his truck, ran over and told a witness "oh no, I didn't see the red light".
When passers-by got to the car, they found the toddler crying out for "Bubba", their head bleeding.
Ms Stoyanovski was declared dead at the scene and her grandchild was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital with minor injuries.
Two of Ms Stoyanovski's daughters read emotional statements to court, including the toddler's mother who said the child continued to have nightmares and suffered anxiety when inside a car seat.
"I hate to think that if the situation was different, or if those guardian angels didn't protect my baby, I would have had to bury my [child] and my mum," she said.
"Whatever distracted you on that day, I hope it was worth it. I am far from a vengeful person but there are some things in life that can never be forgiven and this is one of them."
Ms Stoyanovski had been on her way to collect an older grandchild from their job at McDonald's when the crash happened.
After she failed show, her daughter drove around looking for her and then came upon the scene of the crash.
"That sight will haunt my nightmares forever," she said.
Defence barrister Serge Petrovich said Bouras was distracted by a hands-free phone call and had been conducting blind-spot checks after passing another large vehicle on the road when the crash occurred.
"He made a monumental error which he'll pay for for the rest of his life," he said.
Mr Petrovich said his client suffered from mental health issues, including PTSD from the crash, which would make time in prison more difficult on him.
He said Bouras had no criminal history and held an "impeccable" driving history.
Judge Michael Tinney said he would hand Bouras a prison sentence due to the seriousness of the offence and mandatory sentencing laws.
"Your client is prison-bound," Judge Tinney said.
Bouras had his bail revoked and was remanded in custody. He will be sentenced next week.
