Man dies after single-car rollover at Avenue Range near Lucindale, police probe possible links with house fire

A man who died in a crash in the South East reportedly first torched a woman’s home, forcing her to flee.

A Potts Road house has been destroyed in a suspicious fire overnight at Lucindale and police are investigating possible links with a later fatal crash. Picture: Jessica Ball

A Kingston man allegedly torched a Lucindale home before he was killed in a single car rollover in the state’s South East, according to a woman who was lucky to escape the fire.

Kerrie McRae told 7 News she was devastated after being forced to flee to a neighbour’s house moments before her home was destroyed in the blaze.

Police say they are investigating links between the crash and the house fire earlier that night.

Police were alerted to the crash just before midnight on Sunday, arriving to find a car had rolled on Avenue Range Road, outside of Lucindale, about 345km south east of Adelaide.

The driver and only person in the Holden sedan, a 58-year-old man from Kingston, died at the scene.

Avenue Range Road is closed while Major Crash Investigators examine the circumstances.

Meanwhile, just before 11pm, police in Lucindale noticed flames coming from a house on Potts Road.

All that’s left of the Lucindale house after fire ripped through it. Picture: Jessica Ball

THE APPROXIMATE CRASH LOCATION

CFS were called and extinguished the blaze, which left the unoccupied house extensively damaged.

Forensic Investigators from Adelaide are examining the scene.

Police say the fire is being treated as suspicious, and the fatal crash an hour later at Avenue Range.

At the fire scene, CFS regional duty officer Scott Murray said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation but confirmed the Kingston man was not the owner of the home.

Mr Murray said the blaze took around 30 to 45 minutes to bring under control.

“The Lucindale brigade turned out with the two trucks and a bulk water carrier and when they arrived the house was fully engulfed in fire,” Mr Murray said.

“They just doused the flames where they could, unfortunately, it was past saving by the time they got here.

“Everything that was in the house appears to have been lost.”

Firefighters at the scene of the suspicious Lucindale house fire. Picture: Jessica Ball

Lucindale Cafe and Deli is a meeting place for the close-knit community and owner Kate Kendrick said the news had rocked the town but they would support each other.

“It’s turned it upside down this morning, especially after the fires not long ago,” Ms Kendrick said.

“We’ve had a few locals come in a bit shocked at it all.

“We look out for everyone, being in the deli we sort of keep an eye on everyone, a lot of people come through and they check on each other.”

Ms Kendrick said she first found out about the house fire when the neighbours came in to buy food after their power was cut off.

“They have three young kids so they were a bit shaken by the whole ordeal with the fire,” Ms Kendrick said.

“She was on her way to work so she was quite upset and to get three young kids off to school and kindy after last night.”

The man’s death is the 17th life lost on South Australian roads this year, compared to 16 this time last year.

It comes after a Port Augusta man also rolled his car and died on February 26.

The 53-year-old was involved in a single-car rollover at Caroona Road, Port Augusta West, at about 6pm on Friday evening.

The man, who was the sole driver and occupant of the Ford Falcon, died at the scene.