Young father James Caridi dies in Portrush Road motorcycle tragedy

The young father of three died in a shocking collision on one of Adelaide’s busiest roads on Wednesday.

A young doting dad of three has been lauded as “the realest” after the motorcyclist was killed in a crash on Portrush Rd at Evandale on Wednesday afternoon.

Athelstone man James Caridi, 28, was the victim of the collision with a van and the Edwards St intersection, according to 7News.

A steady stream of friends and family left tributes and messages at the scene on Thursday.

Athelstone man James Caridi, 28, died in a crash on Portrush Road. Picture: Facebook

Then a group of around 25 mourners gathered there on Thursday evening.

Flowers were wrapped around street signs and handwritten messages left.

“James, the realest, always. We got your kids forever,” one message read.

Another said: “(Love heart) you forever James! Always boys xxx.”

One man who visited the scene to pay tribute to the much-loved father said they had been childhood friends and that Mr Caridi came from a good family.

‘Love you forever, James.' There are heartbreaking tributes for a young Athelstone father-of-three killed when his motorbike slammed into a van on Portrush Road. Hear from witnesses in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/LnXsf5T79S#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/BZFF7OYYfq

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 11, 2023

Another friend said Mr Caridi was a loving father of three.

Local resident Paul Egglestone said he was riding his bike down Coorara Ave when he heard a loud explosion on Wednesday.

“At first we didn’t know what it was,” he said. “It was just like this huge explosion.

“A big cloud of smoke went up. I saw the motorbike but couldn’t find where he was.”

People the scene of the crash looking at tributes left for the motorcyclist. Picture: Eva Blandis

Tributes left at the scene of the crash in which a 28-year-old motorcyclist was killed. Picture Roy Van Der Vegt

Flowers and messages left for James, who died in the crash. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Egglestone said the motorbike and car were on fire.

He said he and others tried their hardest to save Mr Caridi’s life.

“The girls doing CPR, they never gave up,” he said. “They really tried to save his life… they did CPR and stuff until the ambulance came.

“If anything like that was to happen to me, I wished I’d have the same group of people around.”

Mr Caridi was travelling north when he collided with a van travelling west, blocking traffic on the busy intersection. He died at the scene.