Thomas Busch pleads not guilty to causing Parrakie grandmother Marilyn Smith’s death in Mid-North crash

A man accused of killing a beloved great-grandmother in a collision in the Mid-North will be allowed to leave the state for a wedding.

An alleged killer driver will be allowed to leave the state to attend a Tasmania wedding as he pleads not guilty to killing a great grandmother a week before Christmas by dangerous driving.

Thomas Busch, 28, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday to enter pleas after a fatal crash in Steelton last year that killed Parrakie woman Marilyn Jean Smith.

John Lister, for Mr Busch, said his client would plead guilty to driving without due care, and aggravated driving without due care – the circumstance of aggravation being Ms Smith’s death.

The intersection of Steelton Rd and Main Rd in Steelton, where Thomas Busch allegedly crashed into Marilyn Jean Smith and her husband John, on December 18, 2023. Picture: Google Maps

Mr Busch, of Duncan, pleaded not guilty to causing the 80-year-old’s death by dangerous driving – for which he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

He also pleaded not guilty to causing harm to Ms Smith’s husband John by dangerous driving.

Ms Smith died days after she and Mr Smith were involved in a major crash at the intersection of Steelton Rd and Main Rd on December 18, 2023.

Mr Busch was driving a Toyota truck, and was allegedly the cause for the collision with the Smiths’ Mazda sedan.

Ms Smith was a sheep farmer with her 70-year-old husband in SA’s Mid-North.

Her family described her as “a kind, selfless and caring lady, who possessed tremendous strength of character and gave total devotion to her family, her friends and her community.

“She will be deeply missed,” they wrote in a published death notice.

Prosecutors on Tuesday said Mr Busch’s pleas to the charges of driving without due care were not accepted “in satisfaction” and they would be pressing the higher charges at trial.

The court heard they agreed to Mr Busch’s bail variation that would allow him to travel to Tasmania for a wedding in November.

The matter will return to District Court in November.