Leif Branscheid has bail cancelled for drug-fuelled, fatal head-on crash in Kersbrook

A killer driver who had heroin and methamphetamine in his system when he crashed head-on into another driver has wept and vomited in court.

A driver who was high on heroin and methamphetamine when he crashed head-first into another driver, killing them, has wept in court as his bail was revoked.

Leif Branscheid, 46, pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving over the crash which happened at Kersbrook on March 10, 2020.

On Tuesday, Branscheid faced the District Court for sentencing submissions.

The court heard he had been driving erratically only minutes before the crash and had twice almost been involved in a head-on collision with other drivers.

Branscheid was returning home from the city where he had been trying to purchase drugs.

The court heard he had been on a bender for several days with a group of friends before the crash.

He was only 50m from his turn-off for home when he crossed the solid white line and collided with another car.

The driver of the other car, a 47-year-old woman from Hindmarsh Island, died at the scene after suffering critical blood loss from a leg injury.

Leif Branscheid is seen outside the Adelaide Magistrates court at an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

In a police interview shortly after the crash, Branscheid told police “I deserve to go to jail”.

In court, Branscheid was too emotional to read an apology he had written and clung to a vomit bag provided by a sheriff’s officer.

His lawyer Stephen Ey took over and read the apology to members of the victim’s family.

“I wish to take it all back,” he said.

“Words cannot express how sorry I am for what happened. I chose to drive under the influence and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Judge Paul Muscat commented that Branscheid had a “terrible criminal history” which included offences of armed robbery in 1995 and manufacturing methamphetamine in 2017.

The court heard Branscheid had crashed a motorbike on Grand Junction Rd at Valley View only weeks after the fatal accident.

He had a suspended licence and was not supposed to drive.

He also tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamine.

Mr Ey conceded his client was facing a lengthy period of imprisonment and was to be sentenced as a serious repeat offender.

Under current legislation, Branscheid will have to serve at least four-fifths of any sentence in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Judge Muscat said Branscheid’s offending was at the upper end of the range of seriousness.

Branscheid will be sentenced next month.