Elizabeth Meg Krainz pleads guilty to causing motorcyclist’s death by careless use of vehicle

The first person charged under a law named for road crash victim Sophia Naismith – who was struck and killed by a Lamborghini – has admitted to causing the death of a motorcyclist.

A careless driver has admitted to killing a motorcyclist in a crash, becoming the first driver to be charged under “Sophia’s Law” which was created in the wake of the death of teenage road victim Sophia Naismith.

Elizabeth Meg Krainz, 27, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to causing death by careless use of a vehicle on Wednesday.

The court heard Krainz drove a motor vehicle without due care and attention and thereby caused the death of Daniel Gailey.

The charge was aggravated because at the time of the offence Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, which is a cannabinoid found in cannabis, was in Krainz’s system.

A count of causing death by dangerous driving was withdrawn as a result of her plea.

Elizabeth Meg Krainz, centre, outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court, where she is charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist under laws arising from the death of Sophia Naismith. Picture: Sean Fewster

The outcry over Sophia Naismith’s death in 2019 led to legal change. Picture: Supplied by Family

Police allege Krainz, an L-plater, was behind the wheel of a Honda CRV that collided with a Kawasaki motorcycle at Aldinga, in May 2024.

The motorcyclist, 21, of Aldinga Beach, was rushed to hospital but died two days later as a result of his injuries.

Krainz, of Clovelly Park, first faced court in August 2024, charged with one aggravated count of causing death by careless use of a motor vehicle,

She was the first person ever charged with the offence, which was legislated in the wake of the death of teenager Sophia Naismith.

Sophia, 15, was struck and killed by a $330,000 Lamborghini Huracan – with the registration plate “PSYKO” – on Morphett Rd, Glengowrie, in June 2019.

The Huracan’s 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.

They pointed out there was a 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 seven-year sentence.

Andrew Moffa, for Krainz, previously insisted to the court the collision was “just an unfortunate accident”.

He said police already had statements from eight witnesses to the incident, which occurred in an 80km/h zone.

“This (case) is my client driving her vehicle from a side road across another road, turning right, and the victim is the rider of a motorcycle,” he said.

“He has impacted into the side of my client’s vehicle … there are no pre-impact skid marks, so there’s no expert evidence in respect of reconstruction.

On Wednesday, Magistrate Simon Smart remanded Krainz, who is on bail, to the District Court for arraignment in August.

Originally published as Elizabeth Meg Krainz pleads guilty to causing motorcyclist’s death by careless use of vehicle