Drunk driver jailed over fatal SA crash

A drunk, speeding driver who was three times over the limit when he crashed his car, killing his friend, has been jailed for at least two years and three months.

Adam Robert Geyer, 37, pleaded guilty in the South Australian District Court to an aggravated count of dangerous driving causing the death of Zeb Russell.

Geyer was driving up to 60km/h over the speed limit on March 14 when he lost control of his car at Renmark, in the state's Riverland.

The car hit a tree and split in half before part of the wreck collided with a truck.

On Thursday, Judge Paul Cuthbertson jailed him for three years and disqualified him from driving for 15 years.

Geyer, whose alcohol abuse began when he was 13 and led to him abusing drugs, has prior convictions for drink driving.

"The death of the deceased in this matter was needless," the judge said.

"There was no reason whatsoever for driving in the dangerous manner you were driving".

Mr Russell's death had caused immeasurable pain and suffering to his fiancee, family and friends, he added.