In the South Australian District Court on Thursday, Alakiir Kelei Deng was jailed for more than three years after pleading guilty to one aggravated count of causing death by dangerous driving.

But Judge Michael Boylan suspended the sentence, placing the 20-year-old on a good behaviour bond.

The charge related to a crash on Australia Day last year which killed Bor Mabil.

She was a passenger in the car driven by Akol Akol which rolled during the race.

Akol, who was drunk and on drugs, has already been jailed on the same charge.

Deng was driving a second car, which did not crash, but Judge Boylan described her actions as "utterly selfish".

He said she was among a group of people at a party who decided to head to a nearby park.

"You sped off down the road and Mr Akol followed you driving at high speed. He drove up behind you flashing his lights," Judge Boylan said.

"You could have pulled over to let him pass but you accelerated and the race began."

Soon after Akol's car hit a kerb on a bend and rolled, sliding down the road, hitting a power pole and a tree.

Ms Mabil was not wearing a seatbelt and died from her injuries.

Judge Boylan told Deng her offending was not as serious as Akol's but said she must have been aware of how recklessly he was driving.

"Your driving on this night was utterly selfish," he said.

"It goes without saying Ms Mabil's death has caused enormous grief to many people."

Deng came to Australia as a refugee from South Sudan when she was just two years old.

The court was told her offending had since led her to drink too much and had also resulted in her being ostracised by some members of the Sudanese community.

Judge Boylan jailed her for three years and two months with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

He suspended both terms, placing her on a three-year good behaviour bond.

Deng was also banned from driving for 10 years.

Australian Associated Press