Serious bike, truck crash at Montacute after Tantanoola, Woodcroft ’medical episodes’

A 16-year-old motorcyclist has been seriously injured in another bad crash after two motorists died in suspected medical episodes earlier today.

A 16-year-old motorcyclist is in a serious condition after colliding with a semi-trailer truck at Montacute.

The crash occurred at about 11.50am on Gorge Road.

A 16-year-old Hectorville boy sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Gorge Road was closed for several hours while Major Crash investigators examined the scene.

Police at the scene of a serious crash between a truck and motorbike on Gorge Road at Montacute. Picture: Patrick James

SA Police at the scene of a truck and motorcycle crash at Montacute. Picture: Patrick Jame

James Priestly, 57, of Redwood Park was driving his truck towards the quarry and was first on scene, spotting the motorcyclist lying on his back.

“He was pale and not in a good way,” Mr Priestly said.

Mr Priestly helped monitor the man’s condition until paramedics arrived to rush him to hospital.

“I wanted to assist in any way I could,” Mr Priestly added.

“I felt a bit shaken.”

Mr Priestly said was not surprised a crash happened Gorge Road, and said truck drivers fear for their safety and that of commuters daily.

“The condition of the road is disgusting, I only complained about it today,” he said.

“The trucks barely have enough room to take up one lane, let alone having to swerve around others.”

About 15-20 trucks were banked up around the site of the crash, all travelling to the Holcim Quarry.

MORE TO COME

Two men dead after suspected medical episodes

Two men have been killed on South Australian roads over the past two days, with medical reasons being suspected in both incidents.

Just after 6.30am on Thursday, police were called to Tantanoola Road, about 5km from the Tantanoola township in the state’s South-East, after reports a car had left the road and crashed into a tree stump.

Emergency services were unable to save a 56-year-old man from Mount Gambier, who died at the scene.

The car is resting in long grass a decent distance from the straight stretch of road.

The driver of the car at Tantaloona is believed to have suffered a medical episode leading to the crash. Picture Jessica Ball

The road has been closed to all traffic with diversions in place, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area.

Major Crash investigators are heading to the scene and will examine if a medical condition contributed to the incident.

Cheryl, who works near the crash site, said it was a sad day for the community of around 500 and made more traumatic by photos of the car with the man’s body still inside being shared on social media.

“It’s just not right,” she said. “My daughter’s been calling all morning wanting to find out whether my son or me were involved in it.”

Fatal crash in Adelaide’s southern suburbs

It comes a day after a 61-year-old man at Woodcroft was killed when he crashed into a parked car on Wednesday afternoon.

The man from Woodcroft was driving a Mitsubishi station wagon before he crashed into the parked car at about 4pm.

Similarly to the Tantanoola crash, police are investigating whether a medical episode was a contributing factor.

The deaths of the two men are the 30th and 31st lives lost on SA roads so far this year, compared with 29 at the same time in 2020.

It comes as the family of a Davoren Park motorcyclist shared their grief after the death of a “beloved” son and brother in a tragic crash on the weekend.

Aahron Kelso crashed at Barossa Valley Way, Sandy Creek on Saturday about 5.30pm.