Teen ute driver in police focus as friends pay tribute to ‘beautiful’ Poppy Crozier after horror fatal Ki Ki crash

A teen driver’s decisions seconds before a fatal crash are at the centre of a police inquiry as a community is left reeling over the death of 19-year-old Poppy Crozier.

Poppy Crozier's friends pay tribute after she died in crash

A teenage ute driver’s potentially dangerous decisions before a fatal crash on a major country highway are central to a police inquiry as tributes are paid to the popular former private schoolgirl victim.

Major Crash police are investigating a horror smash at Ki Ki, 145km southeast of Adelaide, killing Poppy Crozier, 19, whose family’s farm near Keith was destroyed by bushfire more than five years ago.

Poppy died at the scene after her silver Mazda station wagon crashed along with a blue Holden ute and B-double truck, just after 6.45pm on Friday.

The smash, on an overtaking stretch of the Dukes Highway between Tailem Bend and Coonalpyn was among a spate of four deaths in a horror 24 hours on the roads, forcing authorities to renew road safety pleas.

Poppy Crozier, 19, graduated from Wilderness School in 2021. Picture: Instagram

Poppy Crozier from Keith lost her life at the scene of a collision between her Mazda station wagon, a Holden ute and a truck on the Dukes Hwy at Ki Ki about 6.45pm on Friday. Picture: Instagram

Police are focusing on the ute driver, 18, of Murray Bridge as family and friends paid tribute to Poppy, a former Wilderness boarding student who was “the most beautiful girl”.

Officers appealed for dashcam footage or witnesses “to the manner of driving of the ute prior to the crash”.

Locals believed Poppy was an “innocent driver”.

Police said the ute, with personalised SA number plates, was believed to have overtaken heavy vehicles before the crash as the teen drove west towards Adelaide. It is understood an “open line of inquiry” is whether he overtook the semi at a wrong spot or misjudged distances, causing it to veer into Poppy as she travelled east.

No charges have been laid.

Wilderness School principal Belinda Arnfield wrote to 2021 old scholars on Saturday about Poppy’s death.

“Unfortunately, I have received news that Poppy died tragically in a car accident last night on the Dukes Hwy near Keith,” she wrote.

“I have reached out to Poppy’s family to ensure they have support from the Wilderness community during this incredibly challenging time.

“I am incredibly grateful for the tight-knit and supportive relationships within our Wilderness community.”

Friends of the teenager took to social media to pay tribute to her after the tragic crash.

Poppy Crozier (left) from Keith lost her life at the scene of a collision between her Mazda station wagon, a Holden ute and a truck on the Dukes Hwy at Ki Ki about 6.45pm on Friday. Picture: Instagram

Poppy Crozier (centre) from Keith lost her life at the scene of a collision between her Mazda station wagon, a Holden ute and a truck on the Dukes Hwy at Ki Ki about 6.45pm on Friday. Picture: Instagram

Peyton Bennett posted a collage of photos to her Instagram story accompanied by a touching tribute.

“My heart is shattered, Poppy,” she wrote.

“You are such a beautiful girl, and it won’t ever feel real that you’re gone.

“This isn’t fair and makes no sense, you didn’t deserve this.

“Rest easy. You are loved by everyone who got to meet you.”

Tributes for Poppy Crozier are flowing on social media after she died in a car crash on the weekend. Picture: Instagram

Poppy Crozier (centre) from Keith lost her life at the scene of a collision between her Mazda station wagon, a Holden ute and a truck on the Dukes Hwy at Ki Ki about 6.45pm on Friday. Picture: Instagram

Charlotte Fiebig also used the platform to reflect on her friendship with Poppy saying she was “forever and always my bus buddy”.

“Give them hell up there darling,” she wrote.

A third friend, Imogen Rivaz, said that Poppy was “the most beautiful girl”.

Daisy Rebel also posted to Instagram referring to Poppy as a “beautiful cricket girl” who will “forever be dad’s favourite”.

“I miss you so f**king much I can’t even words couldn’t even explain,” she wrote.

Tributes for Poppy Crozier are flowing on social media after she died in a car crash on the weekend. Picture: Instagram

Tributes for Poppy Crozier are flowing on social media after she died in a car crash on the weekend. Picture: Instagram

Poppy Crozier recently went skydiving referring to is as the “most unreal experience”. Picture: Instagram

Her parents, well-known Sherwood farmers, were too distressed to speak publicly.

The ute driver was taken to Murray Bridge hospital suffering serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The truck driver, 35, of Burton, was uninjured.

Poppy’s life was the 57th life lost on South Australian roads this year, compared to 33 at the same time last year.