Man describes how he heard ‘loud bangs’ after crash where man, 78, was killed at Mypolonga

A shocked resident has described how he witnessed his heroic neighbour try to rescue a man from a burning car after it hit a tree near Murray Bridge. Sadly, the driver died at the scene.

AN off-duty fireman desperately tried to pull a driver from his burning car after it hit a tree and burst into flames at Mypolonga on Wednesday night.

A neighbour has described how the fireman bravely attempted to help but was pushed back by fire after the crash about 9.15pm.

The 78-year-old driver died at the scene.

Greg Jones, who lives on South Bokara Rd, next to the paddock where the crash happened, said he heard “three or four loud bangs”, which he thought were gunshots, and went to investigate.

“My neighbour is a fireman, he tried to put the fire out,” Mr Jones said.

“He heard the car coming around the corner really, really fast and heard the bang. He came down to try and see if he could help and put the fire out, but it was well and truly on fire.”

Mr Jones said his neighbour tried to pull the man from the car but stepped back after realising it was too late.

A CFS firefighter douses down the tree. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A man has died after crashing into a tree at Mypolonga on Wednesday night. Picture: Patrick James

The tree split in half from the impact of the car. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Jones, 71, who has lived in the same home his whole life, said the thick gum tree had been dead since he was 10 and he had tried to remove it several times. “The car was well and truly alight, really burning. The tree was just shattered,” he said.

The 78-year-old man’s death is the 73rd life lost on SA roads this year, compared with 66 at this time last year.