A truck driver behind the wheel of a horror SE Freeway crash that injured nine has been arrested

The Queensland truck driver whose vehicle allegedly caused a horror crash involving seven cars and a bus on a South Australian motorway has been named in court.

The Queensland truck driver who allegedly ploughed through the major intersection at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway has been granted bail.

Appearing via video link, Ross Phillip Hicks, 60, of Forest Glen, was granted bail and will be permitted to return to his Queensland home.

No driving restrictions were set as part of Mr Hicks’ bail conditions.

He will be required to report weekly to the Maroochydore police station and reappear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in December.

Police prosecution did not oppose bail.

Mr Hicks’ wife of 38 years was present in the courtroom.

Olivia Fantis, for Mr Hicks, asked for 20 weeks to prepare the defence given “the nature of this matter”.

It was just before 4pm Sunday when the truck failed to stop on the freeway downtrack at the Glen Osmond and Portrush roads intersection, crashing into seven cars and a bus.

All of the injured were rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries – the state’s top traffic cop Bob Gray said that no one died was “miraculous”.

Major crash at the freeway near the toll gate. Picture: Keryn Stevens

On Tuesday evening, Major Crash Investigators with officers from the heavy vehicle enforcement section arrested Mr Hicks.

He was charged with acts to endanger life, nine counts of dangerous driving causing harm, manner dangerous, due care, driving unlicensed and numerous national heavy vehicle offences.

The crash sparked pleas for safety reforms at the freeway bottleneck, including the installation of a third arrester bed for truck drivers unable to stop in the steep descent.

Adelaide Hills advocates said the freeway was dated, and major reforms are needed, such as removing heavy vehicles from the busy thoroughfare altogether.

Independent member of Kavel Dan Cregan, who represents residents in the Hills and surrounds, wrote to Premier Peter Malinauskas and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis on Monday.

“Without further investment there is a real risk more people will lose their lives at this very dangerous intersection,” Mr Cregan said in a statement.

“I was gutted when the former minister abandoned the GlobeLink proposal.

“We need to be looking at completing an Adelaide Hills Freight bypass as well as a further arrester bed and changes to traffic management measures.”

CFS and emergency services at the scene of the freeway crash on Sunday. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Other Hills representatives including Mount Barker Mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom, and SA’s Transport Action Group echoed the calls for reforms to keep up with the growing population using the freeway.

The GlobeLink plan was announced in 2017 by the former Liberal government, but it was scrapped after report found it would be of minimum benefit.

The intersection was closed for most of Sunday but partially opened on Monday while traffic lights were repaired.

Anyone with further information on the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.