Witnesses wanted by police for horrific South Eastern Freeway crash that killed Highbury man

Police are appealing for witnesses to Thursday’s horrific smash on the South-Eastern Freeway, where a car lost control and crashed into oncoming traffic, killing a motorcyclist.

Witnesses are being sought by police after a motorcyclist was killed in a horrific crash on the South Eastern Freeway last night.

The freeway reopened about midnight, in time for Friday’s morning peak-hour traffic.

The 53-year-old Highbury man was killed when a Toyota four-wheel drive travelling on the uptrack lost control and crashed through the nature median strip into his Kawasaki motorcycle and a Subaru station wagon, police said.

Police are “particularly interested” in speaking with the occupants of a dark-coloured Mitsubishi station wagon following the Toyota before the collision, and the driver of a white rigid dump truck towing a flatbed trailer that was in the vicinity at the time of the collision, according to an SA Police statement.

“A Toyota four-wheel drive was travelling outbound on the South-Eastern Freeway when it crashed into a Subaru station wagon and a Kawasaki motorcycle, both heading towards the city.”

The tragic accident occurred about 5pm when a car crossed the median strip. Picture: Matt Loxton

Outbound traffic ground to a halt on the freeway. Picture: Lydia Kellner

Both drivers, a 36-year-old Strathalbyn woman in the Toyota, and a 36-year-old Kensington man in the Subaru, sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.

The tragedy – which happened about 5pm on Thursday about 300m from the Old Mount Barker Road overpass on the Bridgewater side – brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill.

The freeway was closed in both directions between Stirling and Bridgewater for peak-hour and into most of the evening.

Diversions at Bridgewater and Stirling were in place until the freeway reopened overnight

Traffic backed up well into the evening. Picture: Lydia Kellner

Motorists took up to 90 minutes to reach Stirling from the Heysen Tunnels.

The shutdown comes just over a week after a truck breakdown caused havoc and long delays on the freeway during peak-hour traffic.

That breakdown reignited calls for the State Government to ease pressure on the increasingly busy road link. Hills leaders and commuters called for a bullet train to end traffic chaos, cutting travel time between Mount Barker and the city to just 22 minutes.

At the time, Transport Minister Corey Wingard last week said a tow truck would be on standby while freeway roadworks were underway.

One driver said motorists were “packed in like eggs in a carton”. Picture: Matt Loxton

It's a carpark between Stirling & Aldgate down track. SE freeway.
Possible [e-mail]/yeLWNK6d7O

— ToddthePainter (@toddthepainter) April 29, 2021

Traffic is backed up along the South Eastern Freeway as a result of the crash. The Freeway is closed in both directions with diversions in place. @7NewsAdelaidepic.twitter.com/uw4K697eOH

— Tim Hatfield (@timhatfield87) April 29, 2021

On the freeway, Shane Thompson, 28, of Bridgewater, said he heard of the crash before it was too late to turn around.

“We’re all packed in like eggs in a carton, it’s pretty surreal,” he said.

Tara Meadows, 44, of Woodside, said while the delays meant her 12-year-old daughter, Kiera, missed netball training, the safety of police and first responders was more important.

The motorcyclist’s death brings the state’s road toll to 39, two more than at the same time last year.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.