Everything we know about the man charged over horror fatal crash in Nangwarry

A young man was charged with causing the deaths of two children from the same family in the horrific crash on the Riddoch Highway at Nangwarry. Here is what we know about him.

The man charged over a fatal crash that claimed the lives of two children was an apprentice diesel mechanic and a keen 4WD enthusiast.

Callum Thorne, 22, was granted bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, October 30.

The Mount Gambier man was arrested and charged by Major Crash Investigation Section officers on Tuesday after the devastating three-car collision on the Riddoch Highway, about 5km south of Nangwarry, near Mount Gambier.

Callum Thorne was charged with driving causing the death of two children and injuring two others from the same family.

What we know about Callum

Mr Thorne is an apprentice diesel mechanic who has a keen interest in 4WDing.

A dedicated Instagram page to the Nissan involved in the crash showed his passion for 4WDing and documented his progress in upgrading the ute.

He played junior football for the West Gambier Football Club.

Social media profiles say he attended Mount Gambier’s Grant High School.

A dedicated Instagram page to the Nissan involved in the crash showed Callum Thorne's passion for 4WDing and documented his progress in upgrading the ute.

A five-year-old boy and a teenage girl died after a serious crash in South Australia. Picture: 9 News

Details of the crash and his charges

Mr Thorne was arrested and charged by Major Crash Investigation Section officers on Tuesday, October 29, after the three-car collision on the Riddoch Highway.

On Sunday around 2.40pm, a woman driving a black Holden sedan collided with an emu.

She was not injured in the crash.

A grey Toyota station wagon with a family from Mount Gambier in it braked to avoid a collision with the Holden sedan.

However, seconds later a white Nissan ute allegedly crashed into the back of the Toyota.

Two children in the station wagon died in the crash while other occupants were injured.

Mr Thorne was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing harm by dangerous driving.

He was initially refused bail before his first court appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Court appearance

Mr Thorne appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday – the case had to be heard by an Adelaide Magistrate as the father of the accused works as a sheriff in the Mount Gambier Courthouse.

Friends and family of Mr Thorne gathered at the Mount Gambier courthouse to watch the appearance, holding hands tightly and crying as he was granted bail.

They declined to speak to media as they left the courthouse.

Mt Gambier Magistrates Court.

Missing phone at centre of bail opposition

In court, a prosecutor told the court they were opposed to bail as Mr Thorne’s phone had not yet been recovered and data showed it travelled south after the accident before it was turned off.

The court heard the phone was not found at Mr Thorne’s home during a search so police requested his phone account details.

“Police have used those details to access the phone this morning and it has pinged at the home address once again,” the prosecutor said.

“I don’t accept that the defendant and his family are unaware of where the phone is – I am suspicious of some perversion.”

What happens next?

Magistrate Ben Sale said while he was troubled by the allegations of interference he noted that whatever interference may have occurred happened while Mr Thorne was in custody and there was no suggestion he was directing those efforts.

He also noted Mr Thorne’s youth and lack of criminal history and he was granted bail with conditions, including reporting to the police once a week.

He is scheduled to appear in court again in May 2025.