Man killed after car crashes into tree on Torrens Rd in Renown Park
The wreckage is horrific. The car’s engine, torn from its mount, lying in pieces on the footpath. A man died in this shocking crash on Torrens Rd, the 79th so far this year — and police can’t understand.
SA News
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The car wreckage is enough to turn any stomach — just another horrific example of the dangerous driving frustrating police this year, and pushing the state’s road toll towards a record death rate.
The 23-year-old man who died behind the wheel of the Holden Statesman — after hitting a tree on Torrens Rd at Renown Park — made a “conscious decision” to hoon drive, police say.
Witnesses told The Advertiser the man, from Kidman Park, was driving erratically and forced another car to swerve before he veered off Torrens Rd just before 11am on Tuesday.
Superintendent Bob Gray said speed was an obvious factor in the fatality because the man’s car was almost split in half.
“These aren’t accidents, every one of these was avoidable,” he said.
“(It) is extremely concerning and disappointing given that we attribute 14 fatalities of our 79 this year to excessive speed.
“And that is a conscious decision someone has made on each occasion to get behind the wheel and drive inappropriately.”
Witness Terry Worrall said he was driving along St James Blvd when he saw the man speeding “in a flash” towards the western suburbs.
He said a white van was forced to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with the Holden before the man drove through several trees.
He said the Holden then sideswiped a wall on a footpath before crashing into a tree on the opposite side of the road, a few footsteps from a bus stop.
“He was going miles too fast,” he said. “Another five or ten seconds and he would’ve hit me.”
Another man said he saw the car driving along Torrens Rd doing “loops.”
The car’s engine was torn off its mount on impact and catapulted from the car. The driver’s
grief-stricken family visited the scene but were too distraught pay tribute publicly.
Major Crash investigators closed the road to all traffic as they examined the wreckage.
“That’s the 79th time members of SA Police have had to attend an address and break devastating and life-shattering news to loved ones, colleagues and family,” Supt Gray said.
“When are people going to start taking the road safety messaging seriously?
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, enough is enough. People have to take responsibility on our roads.”
Supt Gray said police are investigating claims the man had been seen driving dangerously earlier in the day.
The state’s road toll now sits at 79 compared with 49 at the same time last year.
A 23yo man has been killed in this horror crash on Torrens Road.
— Elspeth Hussey (@ElspethHussey7) September 10, 2019
The engine of his car is metres away on the footpath. pic.twitter.com/vbPdMA5IOI