‘Distraught’ elderly Adelaide driver who ran red light, killing a pedestrian pleads for mercy

An 87-year-old Adelaide man who ran a traffic light that had been red for seven seconds before he hit and killed an 85-year-old pedestrian is pleading mercy be shown towards him during sentencing.

A defence lawyer for Elemer Dobak told the District Court his client was “distraught, aghast, ashamed and deeply remorseful“ over the crash outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in February 2023.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Elderly driver pleads for mercy over deadly crash.

The 87-year-old Findon man pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Rosewater grandmother Joan McCaskill was critically injured in the crash and later died in hospital.

Her family delivered powerful victim statements in court on Wednesday, referring to the 85-year-old as “the jewel” of the family.

They said she “adored” and “loved” by those who knew her.

“(She was) strong, fiercely independent, a pillar of the community,” her granddaughter, Rachel Asir, said.

Prosecutors told the court, Dobak had an unobstructed view of the road the day of the crash.

They said a traffic light had been red for seven seconds when he ploughed through the intersection.

The court heard Dobak’s eyesight was regularly assessed, and he was declared fit to drive.

Defence lawyer, John Lister, said Dobak was at a loss to explain how he failed to see the red light.

The McCaskill family said they had experienced “indescribable trauma” from seeing the grandmother “frail, battered and bruised” in hospital.

They said Dobak’s actions were “unforgivable and inexcusable”.

Outside court, Dobak said he was “sorry for everything”.

A supporter of Dobak’s added: “We’d like to say we’re devastated and our hearts go out to Mrs McCaskill’s family, this is a terrible tragedy.”

Dobak will be sentenced in August.

- With Deanna Williams