Teenage girl killed after Lamborghini mounts kerb in Glengowrie crash
The schoolfriends of much-loved 15-year-old Sophia Naismith have gathered at the site of her death — as the driver of the “out of control” $330,000 Lamborghini is charged with her death.
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A luxury car owner has been charged after allegedly killing a 15-year-old girl and seriously injuring another when he lost control of his Lamborghini and crashed into them in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
The white Lamborghini left Morphett Road in Glengowrie, mounted a kerb and hit Sophia Naismith and her best friend, both aged 15, before crashing into the House of Tien restaurant just before 10pm on Saturday.
SA Police say the driver was in the car with his wife when the incident occurred.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and treated both girls, but Sophia, from Seaview Downs, died.
The other girl, from Richmond, was rushed to Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries but her condition is not considered life-threatening.
SA Police arrested a 37-year-old Elizabeth North man and charged him with death by dangerous driving and causing injury by dangerous driving.
He has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on July 31.
Dozens of people who knew Sophia visited the crash scene on Sunday to pay their respects.
Daisy Page, 16, was a schoolfriend and described her as “the most caring, nicest girl ever”.
She said Sophia and her best friend, who was the other teenager injured in the crash, were inseparable.
“They were just the nicest girls,” she said.
“They always put other people before themselves. (They were) really caring, funny and really good at everything.”
Daisy said the incident was “Just devastating”.
“We’ll always remember all the happy memories we had of her,” she said.
Chloe Bramley, 15, played netball with Sophia and said she was “happy all the time”.
She said her teammate excelled at the various sports she played, including soccer and volleyball, and was also a high performer at school.
“She could do it all,” Chloe said.
Piper Window also attended the same school and was shocked at what had happened.
“She was really caring … smart and sporty. Her family is really close. They’re always together.”
The 2016 Lamborghini Huracan — which goes from 0 to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds — was recently listed for sale with an asking price of $328,888 on a car sales website.
The car’s owner wrote, “this has been by far one of the best Supercars I’ve owned & in my opinion more fun the LP610-4”.
House of Tien owner Kiet Tran had closed the restaurant and was cleaning up when the crash occurred.
He said the car also hit a sign post and a tree before it crashed into his restaurant.
“We were cleaning up …(and) I heard a big bang — The car went into my front door,” he said.
Mr Tran said he and the driver checked on the girls but he immediately knew Sophia had died.
“I said ‘she’s gone’,” he said.
“(The driver) tried to pick her up and I said ‘no, don’t touch her’ (because) we’re not professionals. He was really calm.”
Mr Tran said the driver waited for police to arrive.
He said a female passenger of the Lamborghini was in shock after the incident.
“She was crying and yelling and was really losing control,” he said. “She was in shock.”
Mr Tran offered his condolences to Sophia’s family.
“My heart is bleeding for her,” he said. “I feel bad for the parents. I can’t imagine how the family is.”
Neighbours of the driver said he was known for the distinctive white car, but that he rarely actually drove the car on the streets.
“I barely heard it,” one neighbour said. “When I saw the news this morning I thought to myself, I recognise that car.”
The Advertiser understands the charged man had attended the Wintertime Show and Shine car event at the Westfield Marion shopping centre prior to the crash.
A person at the event, who did not wish to be named, said he saw the Lamborghini on show.
“I saw his car. It was just parked there, nothing out of the ordinary,” he said. “(The owner) has been around the car scene for a while.”
Geof Tartoosie also saw the Lamborghini at the car show.
“He drove in normally and drove out normally — nothing untoward,” he said.
“They had police at every exit so that when the car show finished at 9.30pm, all the cars that were leaving could see there were police at the exits so nobody was doing anything silly.
“The organisers actually said, when they finished the show, ‘everybody take it easy going home and drive safely’.”
“It was really cold last night and maybe he had cold tyres … and unfortunately this has happened,” he said.
The car show’s organiser Horsepower Crew issued a statement about the crash.
“We would like to acknowledge a tragic incident that took place after our Wintertime Snow & Shine 2019 Festival within 3kms of the event location,” it read.
“We wish to pass on our deepest condolences to all families/affected persons/EMS that are affected by this tragedy.
“At Horsepower Crew we consistently work closely with authorities and SAPOL to ensure the safety of our community in attendance of our Festivals.”
The statement went on to implore people to be respectful when commenting on the incident on social media.
“As a community, we need to ensure that we are respectful to the those affected by this tragic news,” the statement read. “Please ensure your comments and posts on social media are aligned with this.”
It was one of three fatal incidents that completed a shocking night on SA’s roads after a young motorcyclist died in the state’s South-East while an elderly man was killed and two others were seriously injured in a head-on crash in Adelaide’s north during a four-hour period of crashes.
The state’s road toll now stands at 59 compared with 36 at the same time last year.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the white 2016 Lamborghini on Morphett Road or in the vicinity prior to the collision to please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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