A driver who accidentally pulled out in front of a truck, killing his 12-year-old son, has been spared jail after the magistrate said he was a good man who suffered great pain and anguish.

Key points: Jouhari had been driving in a convoy at time of crash

Jouhari had been driving in a convoy at time of crash Father had a "bad feeling" about the family trip

Father had a "bad feeling" about the family trip Magistrate Ian White acknowledged Jouhari's suffering

Seyed Jouhari, 48, pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of driving without due care.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard he was driving in a convoy with his extended family members on a trip to Milang in April 2015 when he turned into the path of a truck.

Magistrate Ian White said it was an error Jouhari still struggled to comprehend.

"You still do not understand how you failed to see that truck coming towards you," he said.

"You still cannot comprehend how you didn't see it before you made the turn. You gave the truck driver no chance to avoid a collision. He is not to blame at all for the accident, as you accept."

The court heard Jouhari's decision to accelerate to try to avoid the truck's path likely saved the lives of his wife and two other children who were in the car.

"You had a choice to accelerate or brake, but the choice to accelerate probably saved the lives of the other members of your family in that car," Magistrate White said.

"Unfortunately it seems Seyed, your 12-year-old son, took the force of the collision. It killed him instantly.

"Your son Seyed, I am told, was a very special young boy and he was very special to you. I only have to look at you to see the pain and anguish that you have."

Magistrate White said Jouhari did not have any alcohol or drugs in his system and had otherwise been driving safely.

Jouhari suffered adversity in Afghanistan and Iran

The court heard Jouhari had a difficult life, having been imprisoned by the Taliban and persecuted for his religious beliefs when he lived in Afghanistan and Iran.

"Despite all of the adversity that you have had, and sometime terrible segments of your life in Afghanistan and Iran, essentially this accident is the hardest matter you have suffered in your life," Magistrate White said.

The court heard Jouhari prays every day to find the strength to keep going and care for his family.

"You told the psychologist that from the very beginnings of the organisation of this family trip you had a bad feeling about it and that your regrets for going on it must be something that is very difficult to put aside," Magsitarte White said.

"Unfortunately this offending has a great conundrum of being a completely unintentional crime that gets more and more serious if more people are injured or killed.

Magistrate White imposed a four-month jail term that he suspended, saying Jouhari was a "good man" whose circumstances would attract sympathy from every member of the community.

He placed Jouhari on a two-year good behaviour bond and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.