Carlie Eileen Richards, 38, appears in bedside hearing for allegedly causing fatal Port River expressway crash

A 38-year-old woman accused of causing the horror fatal crash on the Port River Expressway last night was too mentally unwell to physically face court today.

Police survey the devastating wrecks. Picture: Dean Martin

The woman alleged to have caused the horror crash on the Port River Expressway last night his too mentally unwell to physically face court.

Carlie Eileen Richards, 38, of Port Adelaide, was not present in court, instead she was dialled in from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in what is called a bedside hearing.

Further charges were revealed in court documents, showing Ms Richards allegedly ran from police before refusing to give them her name or telling them she was driving.

A 26-year-old North Haven woman died and three other people were taken to hospital following the horror five-car crash, which occurred at Gillman on Tuesday night.

Bedside hearings are traditionally held for defendants with serious injuries or who are mentally unwell.

A woman died and three were taken to hospital following the shocking crash at Gillman on Tuesday. Picture: Dean Martin

Wreckage was strewn along the road for about 400 metres. Picture: Dean Martin

Tyson Leung, duty solicitor for Ms Richards, did not make application for bail, instead requesting an order for her detention under section 269x.

Prosecutor Nick Fatchen did not oppose an application for Ms Richards to be detained on mental health grounds.

“(She) appears to be quite unwell and at times needed to be assisted with stabilising,” he said.

Ms Richards was in total charged with causing death by dangerous driving, three of causing harm by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of the accident and two counts of driving without due care.

A police officer examines the car that allegedly caused the accident. Picture: Dean Martin

She was also charged with failing to answer questions about who was driving, refusing name and address and hindering police.

The North Haven woman who died at the scene was a passenger in a red Toyota Prius, while its driver, a 26-year-old woman also from North Haven, and another passenger, a 29-year-old man from Seaford, were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses saw the driver, alleged to Ms Richards, fleeing the Holden Cruze following the accident.

The scene on the Port River Expressway on Wednesday morning. Picture: Dean Martin

The Port River Expressway was closed in both directions for several hours between Eastern Parade and Hanson Road while Major Crash Investigators examined the scene.

The woman’s death is the 59th life lost on SA roads this year, compared to 83 at the same time last year.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Ms Richards will next face court later this month.