Nadia Bellifemini in court charged with causing death of Marjorie Morritt by careless driving at Elizabeth East

A young woman charged with fatally running down an elderly pedestrian on her 79th birthday had drugs in her system at the time, a court has heard.

Marjorie Morritt, centre, was killed in a road crash at Elizabeth East. Picture: 7NEWS

The woman accused of causing the death of a Lyell McEwin Hospital volunteer on her 79th birthday by careless driving had drugs in her blood at the time, court documents allege.

On Tuesday, Nadia Bellifemini, of Hillbank, appeared in Elizabeth Magistrates Court for the first time charged with causing the death of Marjorie Nora Morritt by careless driving.

Nadia Bellifemini is charged over the fatal crash. Picture: Instagram

Ms Bellifemini, 22, was reported after the crash at the roundabout of Midway Rd and Kinkaid Rd at Elizabeth East on July 2 and charged with causing death by careless use of a motor vehicle. She is yet to enter a plea.

Court documents viewed by The Advertiser allege Ms Bellifemini returned a negative breath analysis and blood test result for alcohol, but traces of THC were located.

The documents elaborate that 10ng/ml were allegedly detected, but a full toxicology report was still pending.

Ms Bellifemini’s social media account links to a now-deactivated adult content creation site called Just For Fans.

The charge of causing death by careless use of a motor vehicle came into force on January 1 as a result of public outcry after the outcome of Sophia Naismith’s case.

Sophia, 15, was killed by a $330,000 Lamborghini Huracan on Morphett Rd, Glengowrie, in June 2019.

Marjorie Morritt was killed in a road accident at Elizabeth East this morning. Picture: 7NEWS

Driver Alexander Damian Campbell was acquitted of causing Sophia’s death by dangerous driving and given a suspended four-month sentence for careless driving.

Sophia’s family called for change, as did the families of other road crash victims pointing out the 93 per cent difference between causing death by dangerous driving’s 15-year sentence, and aggravated driving without due care’s 12-month sentence.

In July 2023, new laws passed state parliament with bipartisan support, creating the mid-range “careless use” offence with a maximum seven-year sentence.

Witness accounts detailed in the court documents describe the scenes after the collision and Ms Bellifemini being “hysterical” and telling witnesses she had not seen Ms Morritt.

“I didn’t see her, I just didn’t see her, I only caught a glimpse of her in my peripheral vision as I hit her,” the documents allege Ms Bellifemini said.

Ms Bellifemini allegedly told police she was on her way to work at the time, had travelled that route five days a week for the past five years, and would often experience vision interference due to the angle of the rising morning sun.

The 22-year-old allegedly told police she was not intoxicated at the time of the incident and was well rested.

During her first appearance, counsel for Ms Bellifemini asked for the matter to be adjourned so it can progress to Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Magistrate Joanna Martin adjourned the matter to return to court in March next year.