‘Heart of gold’: Friends pay tribute to 19-year-old crash victim Callum Kennedy following Furner crash

A teenager who was killed in a crash in the state’s South-East has been remembered as “a sweet and gorgeous boy with a heart of gold”.

Friends have paid tribute to a 19-year-old man with a “heart of gold” who died in a crash in the state’s South-East over the weekend.

Callum Kennedy, of Craigmore, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Corolla sedan when it crashed head-on with a truck on the Princes Highway at Furner on Friday night.

He died at the scene, while the truck driver, a 49-year-old Victorian woman, was taken to the local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

On Sunday, Victoria Pounendis remembered her friend as “a sweet and gorgeous boy with a heart of gold”.

“His quirky personality never failed to put a smile on everyone’s faces,” she said. “Thank you for being my best friend.”

Ms Pounendis said she will be “forever grateful” for the things she learnt from Mr Kennedy, whom she met when they were both students at Trinity College in Gawler.

“I have never truly met a person who I got along with so well; we knew each other inside and out and I’ll forever cherish our friendship,” she said. “Thank you for not only being my best friend but now my guardian angel.”

The Modbury Jets Soccer Club posted on Facebook it was sad to learn of the death of the past player.

Callum Kennedy died in a crash at Furner

“During his junior years at Modbury, Callum was a great player who was highly respected by all who were fortunate enough to both coach him or be his teammate,” the club said.

“Rest in peace Callum; your beautiful smile and friendly nature will be sadly missed by many.”

Mr Kennedy’s death was one of four in the past few days on SA roads.

On Saturday, police and paramedics were called to Shack Road at Commissariat Point near Port Augustafollowing reports of the crash.

They treated the injured man, who was the only occupant of a Holden Commodore sedan, but the 33-year-old local died at the scene.

Crash victims Debbie and Duane Tee. Picture: Facebook

And on Wednesday of last week, tragedy struck a Whyalla Norrie family when a father and grandmother were killed on the Augusta Highway near Baroota, north of Port Pirie.

The driver of the Holden ute, 40-year-old Duane Tee, and his 61-year-old mother Debbie Tee were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree north of Port Pirie.

Two boys aged 11 and 14, Jesse and Rory, who are Duane’s sons, suffered serious injuries and were flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. They are both in a stable condition.

Amid the crashes, on Friday, SA Police launched a series of 13 heart-rending road safety advertisements in what will likely be the most confronting campaign ever put to air in South Australia.

In the series, the family and friends of 18-year-old crash victim Nicholas Holbrook recall the scene on the evening of June 11, 2009.

Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said the emotional campaign was a stark reminder to all drivers that one irresponsible decision could forever affect many lives.

“As well as depicting the mental prison that these people now live in, the campaign asks every South Australian a poignant question ‘What damage will your driving do?’,” she said.