A woman has died in a crash at Tanunda overnight – the fourth person to die in road crashes in the area in as many days

A Tanunda woman has become the fourth person in four days to die in a Barossa road crash, bringing the region’s total so far to ten.

A woman has died after her car rolled in a crash at Tanunda overnight – the fourth person to die in road crashes in as many days in the region.

The crash happened at a roundabout at the intersection of the Barossa Valley Highway, Seppeltsfield Road and Siegersdorf Road about 11pm.

The woman, driving a Holden ute travelling south, hit the roundabout and rolled several times.

When police arrived they located the driver and sole occupant, a 62-year-old Tanunda woman, dead in the vehicle.

The woman’s death brings the number of lives lost to 30 compared with 29 at the same time last year. Ten of those deaths have been in the Barossa Valley area.

The roundabout where the Tanunda accident occurred. Picture: Jason Katsaras

Police markings and skid marks at the scene of the crash. Picture: Mark Brake

It follows a horror weekend in the Barossa region, where three others died in crashes.

Barossa Mayor Michael ‘Bim’ Lange said that the four road deaths in the Barossa Valley since Saturday has shocked the whole community.

“This is extremely unusual and it hits home, any fatality has an impact but I’ve never known anything as regular as this has been occuring,” said Mr Lange.

“We’re a very close-knit community and so our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of the victims at this time.

“The message is always to be attentive on the roads, it’s unusual but unfortunately the roads can be a dangerous place, we will all be hurting in some way.”

SA Police Superintendent Shane Addison is in charge of the Barossa Local Service Area and said each of the collisions had “almost inevitably occurred as a result of the fatal five”.

“The causes we are investigating in relation to the crash last night are speeding, inattention and alcohol and drug use,” he said.

“We believe a lot of the tragedies that have occured recently have a lot to do with community attitudes to driving and attitudes to road use.”

Tributes at the site of Saturday’s crash on Angaston Rd at Nuriootpa. Picture: Jason Katsaras

Major Crash investigators from Adelaide attended the scene to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The intersection was closed for several hours but has since reopened.
Anyone who saw the crash, or saw the silver utility prior to the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Nuriootpa resident Emily Stevens, 31, said on Wednesday morning it was “really hard” hearing about another local death.

“The Barossa is really feeling it. It’s an absolute tragedy,” she told The Advertiser.

“A lot of people (with grape vintage) are working 12-13 hour shifts and really long hours - I don’t know if fatigue is a thing. To have so many in a short amount of time is horrible.”

Gerry Travers, 60, of Tanunda, said the latest death was both shocking and upsetting.

“All these people will be known to people around here,” he said.

“The Barossa community is very tight and it is upsetting. People have to jump in their cars every day to go about their work and their day and you do want to get to the other end safely.”

Alex Wait, 20, and Harley Litzow, 23, who tragically died when the ford ute they were in hit a tree at Nuriootpa on Saturday. Picture: Facebook

Harley Litzow, 23, and Alex Wait, 20 were killed when the Ford ute they were travelling hit a tree on Angaston Road at Nuriootpa just before 2.30am Saturday.

Another passenger in the crash – Nick Coutts, 20 – was unrestrained in the rear tray of the ute and remains in the RAH with serious injuries.

Friends paid tribute to the pair, and left flowers and notes at the scene of the crash.

A motorcyclist also died after crashing into a fence on Barossa Valley Way at Sandy Creek on Saturday. The victim, a 39-year-old Davoren Park man, died from his injuries on Sunday.