Adelaide man John Tsalapatis has been sentenced to three years of home detention for causing a crash that killed school teacher Bernice Sternberg.

According to the ABC, the Greek Australian was found guilty in March of dangerous driving causing the death of 61-year-old school teacher Bernice Sternberg — who was a passenger in a car being driven by her husband Rony Sternberg.

Tsalapatis drove through a McLaren Vale intersection in 2021 without giving way despite two warning signs, on a clear day with fine conditions.

Mr Sternberg and the driver of another vehicle were also harmed in the crash.

In the sentencing on Wednesday, District Court Judge Nick Alexandrides said he accepted the Keswick man struggled with “profound guilt” and “excessive rumination” over the incident, despite denying criminal responsibility.

“Your remorse however does not involve taking responsibility… which caused the death of another and harm to two others,” Judge Alexandrides said.

“[You] disagreed with the allegations that you were driving in a dangerous or reckless manner.

“There can only be limited weight given to your expressions of remorse.”

He added there was nothing about the circumstance of the road or the driving conditions that could explain his manner of driving.

“You had ample warning of the intersection,” he said.

The court heard that Tsalapatis is an engineer working on a green iron initiative.

Alexandrides said that it was heard the work he is involved in would be lost if he were sent to prison or significantly affected if he were to serve the sentence on home detention.

He is on a non-parole period of two years and four months.

When given the home detention, the judge asked the 59-year-old if he understood the orders, but he stared blankly ahead until he eventually nodded when the court sheriff asked for a response.

You need to speak,” Judge Alexandrides told him.

“Yes,” Tsalapatis replied.

His driver’s licence was also disqualified for 12 years.

The Sternberg family, who previously described Sternberg as a “selfless and gifted” McLaren Vale Primary School teacher, did not attend the sentencing.

Tsalapatis has lodged an appeal against his conviction.