Port River Expressway crash-accused Carlie Eileen Richards denied home detention bail

A woman accused of killing a young artist and injuring her twin sister in a horrific crash was allegedly high on meth and driving 100km over the speed limit, a court has heard.

The woman accused of killing a young artist and seriously injuring her twin sister in a crash has been denied bail, as shocking new allegations were aired to the court.

Carlie Eileen Richards, 39, applied for home detention bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after allegedly causing the horrific five car collision while high on meth.

A prosecutor said they were opposed to all forms of bail, due to the seriousness of the alleged offending and the risk she posed to the community.

Police allege Ms Richards was the driver of a car that caused a nightmare crash on the Port River Expressway on November 1, killing 26-year-old Erica Hoy who was just minutes from her home.

They also alleged she caused the serious injury of Ms Hoy’s twin sister Lisa, boyfriend Mike Reader, 29, both in a Toyota Prius, and another driver, Klio Bruckner.

Erica Hoy was killed in a road crash on the Port River Expressway. Picture: Facebook

Erica Hoy was killed in a road crash on the Port River Expressway, while her twin sister Lisa was significantly injured. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Ms Richards, who was driving a Holden Commodore, was allegedly captured on dashcam footage driving erratically and at high speed prior to the crash.

“The front camera then captures the accused travelling uncontrollably at speed narrowly missing two vehicles before colliding with the deceased,” the prosecutor said.

“As a result of the impact the Prius was forced over the raised median strip and propelled into oncoming traffic,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard the Prius collided with a Kia and continued into the left lane where it collided with a B-triple truck, forcing it backwards approximately 165m before it came to a rest.

This caused the Kia to spin and be hit by a van, with Ms Richards’ car colliding with a light pole, spinning and hitting a guardrail before coming to a rest.

“The accused then got out of her vehicle and fled the scene,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard a crash reconstruction estimated Ms Richards was travelling between 158km-171km/h in a 60km zone five seconds prior to impact.

A prosecutor said Ms Richards’ speed allegedly increased three seconds before the collision and there was no emergency braking.

Ms Hoy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her sister suffered bleeding to the brain, a lacerate kidney and a broken nose, while Erica’s boyfriend sustained a punctured lung, rib fractures and internal bleeding.

The court heard an expert opined Ms Richards’ methamphetamine levels meant she was likely to engage in high risk driving, with failure to concentrate.

The prosecutor said Ms Richards had a history of non compliance with mental health treatment and they did not concede she was incompetent at the time of the crash.

Carlie Eileen Richards was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Facebook

The court heard she was allegedly speeding and high on meth at the time of the crash. Picture: Facebook

James Noblet, for Ms Richards, told the court they would be challenging the allegations of speed and how the crash took place.

Mr Noblet said his client was initially remanded to James Nash House but was moved across to the Adelaide Women’s prison, which had been traumatic as she hadn’t been able to see her children.

The court heard Ms Richards was diagnosed as psychotic after the crash but her mental health had since improved dramatically.

Chief Magistrate Judge Mary-Louise Hribal denied Ms Richards bail.

After conceding a case to answer on mental health grounds, Ms Richards was committed to the District Court in October for arraignment on multiple charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, causing harm by dangerous driving and leaving an accident scene.