Marguerita Elizabeth pleaded guilty to Strathalbyn crash that killed 64-year-old passenger
A pensioner who killed her passenger when she crashed a 4WD into a tree in the early hours of the morning had drugs in her system, a court heard.
Adelaide Hills
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A woman had drugs in her system when she caused the death of her passenger by crashing into a tree, a court heard.
Marguerita Elizabeth, 70, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday to causing death by dangerous driving, while a prescribed drug was present in her oral fluid.
The court heard on the last occasion the drug was cannabis.
Elizabeth was behind the wheel of a Toyota four-wheel-drive when she crashed into a tree about 6am on June 17 at the intersection of High St and South Tce in Strathalbyn.
The man, 64, of Mitcham, who was a passenger in the car, was rushed to Mt Barker hospital with serious injuries but could not be saved.
Elizabeth, also from Mitcham, was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries, but was stable.
Last year, a new law passed parliament in which South Australian drivers who tested positive to drugs would immediately lose their licence for three months.
Previously, if a driver tested positive in a drug screening test, oral fluid samples were provided to Forensic Science SA for further analysis.
That meant there was a 28-day delay between the initial roadside test before a loss of licence was enforced, leaving drug drivers “free to endanger lives,” then Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said.
The Bill was proposed by SA Best in September 2020.
“It is obvious from SAPOL road statistics that current drug driving laws serve as little deterrent to motorists who choose to drive while under the influence of drugs,” SA Best’s Connie Bonaros said.
“I hope these tough new laws go a long way to addressing that disturbing trend – innocent lives are depending on it.”
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, Magistrate Simon Smart committed Elizabeth to the District Court for arraignment in July.
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