‘Shocking and deeply upsetting’: authorities call for change after four people die in 24 hours on SA roads

Following a horror 24 hours on South Australian roads and an alarming toll so far this year, authorities are calling for change to prevent further deaths.

Tatiana Tenikoff, the 22-year-old woman who died in Thursday night's fatal crash at Uleybury. Picture: Facebook

Authorities are making a desperate plea for drivers to heed safety advice following four deaths in a spate of crashes during a horror 24 hours on South Australian roads.

Between Thursday at 10pm and Friday at 6.45pm, four people, including 22-year-old Tatiana Tenikoff, were killed in three separate road incidents.

Tatiana Tenikoff, who died when her car crashed into a tree at Uleybury, Adelaide, on Thursday night, 25 May 2023. Picture: Supplied by family

Tatiana was the sole occupant of her Toyota sedan when it veered off the road and hit a tree on Uley Rd at Uleybury, north of Adelaide about 10pm on Thursday.

The Tenikoff family released a statement on Friday saying Tatiana was a “bubbly, beautiful soul with a heart of gold”.

“Taken way too young, Tatiana will be remembered by her family as a loving, funny girl that lit up a room everywhere she went.”

Just over 12 hours later, about 11am on Friday, a 63-year-old Mimili woman and her passenger, a 60-year-old Indulkana man died at the scene where their Holden ute rolled over on the Stuart Hwy at Mt Willoughby in the state’s far north.

A 19-year-old woman from Keith also lost her life at the scene of a collision between her Mazda station wagon, a Holden ute and a truck on the Dukes Hwy at Ki Ki in the state’s southeast about 6.45pm on Friday.

The 57 lives lost on SA roads this year dwarfs the 33 at the same time last year in a worrying trend.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said hearing about the deaths was “both shocking and deeply upsetting”.

“I send my thoughts to the loved ones affected by these horrific events and to all first responders and emergency services personnel tasked with attending the scenes.”

He said the state government is upgrading roads to “improve safety for all road users”.

Stuart Highway fatal smash at Mount Willoughby. Picture: 7NEWS

Next month “along the same stretch of road” on the Stuart Hwy as the Friday morning rollover which killed the 63-year-old woman and 60-year-old man, the state government will commence part of $30m upgrades to major freight routes in SA.

South Australian Police superintendent Darren Fielke said the deaths were avoidable.

“It is saddening that every one of these deaths and injuries was preventable.

“It is the responsibility of every single one of us to consciously change our driving behaviour to reduce the risk of death or serious injury to ourselves and other road users.”

Mr Fielke said police, in order to save lives, are continuing to focus on the factors that most contribute to deaths and serious injuries including speeding, seatbelt use, driving distracted, alcohol, drugs and dangerous road users.

“Every life lost or injury has far reaching impacts on families, friends and whole communities, this is felt particularly hard in smaller regional areas.”

In the wake of the high road toll RAA has called for action to combat the “alarming” number of lives lost.

RAA senior manager of safety and infrastructure Charles Mountain said “there’s still a lot of work to be done” to reach the state’s road safety targets of 50 per cent fewer lives lost by 2031.

The association has called for steps to be taken to prevent deaths on SA roads including upgrades to a highway where one of the most recent deaths occurred.

“In the lead-up to the state budget RAA is calling for $800m over for years to progress duplication of the Augusta, Sturt and Dukes Highways,” Mr Mountain said.

“We are also calling for $750m over four years to address South Australia’s road maintenance backlog and prioritise safety.”