South Australian woman jailed for running over swimmer while drunk on boat

A South Australian woman who was likely more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit when she ran over a swimmer while operating a boat last January has been jailed for more than two years.

Amy Lohf, 44, of Mannum, previously pleaded guilty to an aggravated count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving when she ran over the young woman who was swimming on the River Murray at Mannum on January 26 last year.

In sentencing on Friday, District Court Judge Heath Barklay said Lohf had a predicted blood alcohol reading of 0.17 when she decided to drive a boat, with two water-skiers on the back, at about 6:40pm.

"What can be seen on the video [of the incident] is the boat pull hard to the right and keep going for a second or two, by which time you had run over two swimmers who were in the water swimming at the front of their property about two doors down from where you were," he said.

"The victim … was about five to 10 metres from the riverbank, just beyond the jetty to the property she was at.

"She tried to get out of the way of your boat. When she realised you were not going to turn, she ducked under the water but was hit by the propeller."

Judge Barklay said the young woman "suffered horrific injuries".

"I have viewed the photos that were taken of her injuries. They are confronting," he said.

Judge Barklay said Lohf told police at the time of her arrest, on January 26, 2025, that she had been drinking champagne at her friend's house before they decided to go water-skiing.

"You [said you] had shared four bottles between the three of you," Judge Barklay said.

"According to [a toxicology report], at the time of the incident, you likely would have had a blood alcohol reading of 0.17 per cent."

Judge Barklay said the report found Lohf's level of intoxication would have "significantly impaired" her ability to drive the boat and would have affected her "perception, concentration, thinking, decision making and reaction times".

"The video shows you had to be told to stop the boat after you had driven over the two swimmers," he said.

"You were seemingly unaware of what you had done, which probably underlines the state of your intoxication.

"Making the decision to drive the boat while under the influence of alcohol was inherently dangerous."

Phone vision of the incident released by the court depicts Lohf smiling, waving and saying "hi" at the camera before she started to drive the boat.

Other people on the boat can be heard warning Lohf to watch out for swans and jet skis.

Later in the vision, a woman on the boat can be heard saying: "You just hit someone, I think."

Lohf 'truly remorseful', judge says

Judge Barklay said the court received a character reference for Lohf, which said that the incident was "inconsistent" with the person she was.

He added that the significant media attention that the case drew had left her feeling uncomfortable in her own town.

"You have been targeted … You have felt ostracised within your own community."

"You accept that you brought that on yourself.

"I accept you are truly remorseful for your actions."

Lohf was sentenced to two years, eight months and 13 days behind bars, with a non-parole period of one year and four months.

She will be eligible for parole in September next year.