Jake Long, 26, was travelling almost 20km/h over the speed limit when he drove through the Howitt Street and Creswick Road intersection just after 7.15pm on August 17 last year.

He collided with another car which was carrying two adults and their three children.

A woman aged in her 30s was trapped and sustained serious injuries, while a man aged in his 30s and the three children were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The woman underwent nine hours of emergency surgery for injuries including a broken shinbone, shattered pelvis and punctured diaphragm.

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After the crash, Long was taken to hospital where he was erratic, uncooperative and refused a blood test to measure any alcohol or drugs in his system.

He was travelling between 76km/h and 78km/h in a 60km/h zone.

The Wendouree man was sentenced to two years and one month in prison at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Letizia Torres said the seriously injured woman had experienced extreme pain and fear since the collision.

She said the victim had to build up her strength to walk and drive again and physical and emotional scars remained.

"The offending has affected every aspect of her and her family's life. It was heartbreaking hearing the impact it has had on their life," Ms Torres said.

The magistrate said she took into account mitigating factors submitted to the court by Long's defence counsel.

These included an early guilty plea, Long's young age and importance of rehabilitation, his border-line personality disorder and the additional burden of imprisonment due to the pandemic.

Long has history of drug and alcohol abuse and when released from prison before the crash, he relapsed into drug use.

Ms Torres said Long had not used drugs while in custody and he had two young children and his family's support.

Long has served 205 days of his sentence through pre-sentence detention and will be eligible to apply for parole in 18 months.

His driver's licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for four years.

Long pleaded guilty to three charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to provide a blood sample after an accident.

He appeared via a video link from prison for the sentencing hearing.

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