Woman, 29, dies after South-Eastern Freeway smash near Monarto last month

A woman has died after a Mercedes – suspected of being stolen – crashed on the South-Eastern Freeway with such force the engine was ripped out.

A 29-year-old woman has died after she was involved in a serious crash last month.

The Murray Bridge woman was flown to Flinders Medical Centre with life-threatening injuries, after a serious crash on the South-Eastern Freeway near Monarto.

She was reportedly driving a suspected stolen car, which had left the freeway and slammed into a tree on the citybound side near the Monarto exit about 7.15am on May 12.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are still being investigated.

Hers is the 55th life lost on SA roads, compared with 38 at the same time last year, and comes after Tatiana Tenikoff died in a crash at Uleybury on Thursday night.

DEVELOPING: There has been a high-speed smash at Monarto South where a luxury car has been ripped apart on the South-Eastern Freeway. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/dtWqp0wDJv

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 12, 2023

The engine of the Mercedes-Benz was ripped out upon impact. Picture: 7NEWS

Police suspect the red Mercedes-Benz was stolen in the early hours of the morning from a Murray Bridge residence.

Patricia Stanbury, a Murray Bridge resident, told 7NEWS it was her car that was stolen.

“(It’s) absolutely horrific, I can’t believe anybody could survive that,” she said.

“It breaks my heart.”

CCTV obtained by 7NEWS shows the car speeding down a local street moments before the crash.

DEVELOPING: A Murray Bridge woman is clinging to life after crashing a suspected stolen car on the South-Eastern Freeway at Monarto South. The high-speed impact ripped the luxury car into pieces. Exclusive details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/[e-mail]/QwAacOFaOZ

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 12, 2023

Ms Stanbury’s daughter Mel Stanbury alerted her mother to the crash after she saw it while looking for the car.

“I just happened to see a flash of red and unfortunately the distinctive rims of my mum’s car,” her daughter told 7NEWS.

The force of the impact was so great it ripped the engine out of the Mercedes.

The 29-year-old has died after the crash earlier this month. Picture: 7NEWS

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash, saw the red Mercedes-Benz travelling prior to the incident, or who has dashcam footage that may assist with the investigation, to contact Crime Stoppers.