‘Very close’: Critically injured chef recovers alone after losing family in devastating road crash

A head chef critically injured after a multi-car crash near Wattle Flat must recover in ICU after learning the crash took the life of his mother and sister.

Head chef Niranjan Shrestha, who was critically injured in a major crash that took the life of his mother and sister last week, is now stable in ICU.

The Shrestha family are doing all the can to stay strong after a truck and three vehicles collided on Main South Rd at Wattle Flat at about 12.15pm last Monday November 4.

The owner of The Broadway Kiosk at Glenelg, Niranjan’s workplace, Anthony McAllister-Davis, said he received a call from Niranjan’s wife from the scene telling him what happened.

“(I was) feeling sad … shock (ed) about the incident and hoping Niran was okay because he’s our employee and friend,” he said.

“It sounded pretty horrific by the description.”

Head chef Niranjan Shrestha, who was critically injured, is now stable in ICU, after a devastating crash took the life of his mother and sister near Wattle Flat, south of Myponga on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Picture: GoFundMe

SAPOL’s Major Crash attended the scene. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Mr McAllister-Davis said the much-loved head chef has been in the Flinders Hospital — having been treated for a collapsed lung and bruised ribs.

“(He’s) obviously very bruised and very battered, and he’s still in ICU being taken care of,” he said.

“He has a lot to deal with because he lost his mother and his sister, so emotionally he’s got that to deal with.”

Niranjan’s mum and sister lived in Brisbane, Queensland and came to Adelaide to visit Niranjan’s family.

“They (are) a very lovely family, very close family, very supportive family,” Mr McAllister-Davis said.

Employees at The Broadway Kiosk are quite stressed to hear about Niranjan’s injuries and wish him a speedy recovery.

“We’re obviously rooting for Niran, praying for his good health,” Mr McAllister-Davis said.

“We have a small Nepalese community in the kitchen, and they’re feeling for him and the family because they’re quite close.

“We’re trying to come together, support each other … really pray for a positive outcome.

“Small businesses rally in times like these as (I’m) sure the community of Adelaide will.

“They are a beautiful family and we are fully engaged in supporting Niran’s recovery.”

Niranjan’s sister and mum are the 74th and 75th lives lost on South Australian roads this year.

The driver of the truck, a 35-year-old Victor Harbor man, was arrested by Major Crash investigators and charged. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Normanville resident Gavin Schubert, 72, drove past the crash scene and described it as “horrific”.

“It was like a bomb had gone off,” Mr Schubert said.

“The truck was on its side and there was concrete everywhere on the road, which makes me think it was coming from a demolition (site).

“It threw me while I was driving – you don’t expect to see that.”

The driver of the truck, a 35-year-old Victor Harbor man, was arrested by Major Crash investigators and charged with two counts of cause death by dangerous driving, two counts of cause serious harm by dangerous driving and four counts of cause harm by dangerous driving.

The man has been granted police bail to appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on December 23.

If you’d like to donate to Niranhan Shrestha’s family you can, here.