Rider of Two Wells fatal crash, remembered as a loveable larrikin

A man who died in a collision at Two Wells was on his way to fill in at another lawn bowls club, his distraught friends say, as they remembered Alan Seed – known as Budgie.

A 72-year-old motorbike rider has died at the scene of a horror crash at Two Wells – the second fatal crash in the town in a week.

Grandfather Alan Seed, also known as ‘Budgie’, was riding from Two Wells Bowling Club to fill in for another player at the Playford Bowling Club, when he collided with a cream Ford Laser.

Emergency services including a helicopter were called to the intersection of Dawkins Rd and Germantown Rd around 5.30pm on Thursday.

Paramedics treated Mr Seed but the Andrews Farm grandfather died a short time later.

Alan Seed died in a motorcycle crash Two Wells. Picture: 7News

Alan Seed was a grandfather and a beloved lawn bowls player.

Friends from the Two Wells Bowling Club are still in state of disbelief, as they remember Mr Seed as a “loveable larrikin” nicknamed Budgie.

“One his bowls, he had ‘budgie’ printed on there, so I assume the seed and the budgie go together,” Mr Seed’s friend Neville Ray, said.

“It’s just unbelievable, we just said goodbye to him out at the carpark and we were supposed to see him tonight to play,” bowling friend Adele Ray said.

The emergency helicopter at the scene of a fatal crash at the intersection of Dawkins Rd and Germantown Rd, Two Wells. Picture: Supplied.

The driver of the car, a 39-year-old man from Lewiston, was uninjured but taken to hospital for routine blood tests.

Major Crash investigators went to the scene and will continue to investigate the circumstances.

Two Wells resident Amanda Gillich, 40, said her son, 14, heard the impact of the crash from their nearby residence and witnessed the aftermath.

The 14-year-old tried to assist Mr Seed before emergency services arrived, and Amanda said CFS crews later provided her son with contact information for counselling.

“I heard this loud bang … I rushed out straight away to grab a towel and shielded the guy from the sun, but there wasn’t much anyone could do for him,” the 14-year-old said.

Amanda, a long-term resident of the area, believes a tomato farm on Germantown Rd has increased the level of traffic at that intersection “especially in the morning”.

It has raised her concerns about the potential for more serious accidents, especially for “young lads going through the corner way,” she told The Advertiser.

“The corner is bad for accidents, several accidents have happened … The same thing happen two years ago, with two vehicles.”

A car and a motorcycle have collided at Two Wells. Picture: Agnes Gichuhi

A car and a motorcycle have collided at Two Wells. Picture: Agnes Gichuhi

Dawkins Rod was closed for several hours but has since been reopened.

The man’s death is the 17th life lost on SA roads compared with four at the same time last year.

It is the second accident at Two Wells in a week, with a woman dying in hospital after a crash at the intersection of Brooks Rd and Port Wakefield Hwy last Thursday.

A car and a truck collided, with two women in the car – one 79, the other 80 – rushed to hospital.

The 79-year-old from the ACT died from her injuries on Saturday.

RAA senior manager of safety and infrastructure Charles Mountain told The Advertiser the number of lives lost and serious injuries was alarming.

“What we have seen so far this year reminds us that no matter how good a driver we think we are, we can’t afford to be complacent whenever we get behind the wheel or share the road with others,” he said.

“Distraction is too often the major contributor to crashes, so it is essential we’re well rested, calm and focused whenever we’re driving or riding.”

Around 76 per cent of lives lost are males and around 30 per cent are young people under 30 years of age.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said it’s “heartbreaking”.

“The consequences of dangerous, distracted, drink or drug driving on the road can leave people with a lifetime of regret or worse – a friend or family member who died on our roads,” he said.

Earlier this week, a National Road Safety Action Plan was released to “set the agenda for co-ordinated and planned government action to improve road safety over the next 10 years”.

South Australia’s action plan is expected to be released soon and will address the need for more targeted programs and initiatives “to improve safety for younger road users, older road users, motorcyclists, people pursuing work-related travel and Aboriginal people.”

Mr Szakacs said the action plan will “detail strategies to ensure our road toll is lowered dramatically”.