Three dead, Eyre Highway reopens after horror truck crash near Yalata

Police have confirmed three men have died in the horror Eyre Highway double-truck crash about 27 kilometres west of Yalata.

• Truck crash victim identified

Police have confirmed three men have died in a horror smash between two trucks that wreaked havoc on the Eyre Highway at Yalata on Thursday morning.

A 77-year-old man from Smithfield, who was driving a road train, a 25-year-old man from New South Wales and a 45-year-old man from Victoria in a second truck died at the scene. Touching tributes to a grandfather who is believed to be the victim from Smithfield have appeared online.

Police and emergency services were called to the highway, about 27km west of Yalata, after reports two trucks had collided and caught fire.

A major highway will remain closed after two trucks collided in a shocking crash on the Eyre Highway, about 27 kilometres west of Yalata. https://t.co/eZVwGwfbwA#TheAdvertiser

Credit: Hume Hwy Trucks via Facebook pic.twitter.com/5KqvzJqBw8

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A horror smash between two trucks shut down the Eyre Highway near Yalata. Picture: Hume Hwy Trucks

The two trucks collided and caught on fire. Picture: Hume Hwy Trucks

Police and emergency services received reports of the crash just before 7am on Thursday. Picture: Hume Hwy Trucks

The Eyre Highway has reopened as rescue crews investigate and clean up the site. Picture: Hume Hwy Trucks

Rescue crews were dispatched to the scene and stayed there the entire day to investigate and clean up the road.

The Eyre Highway was closed for most of the day while Major Crash investigators examined the scene but was reopened just after 8pm on Thursday night.

Motorists are advised further delays are expected throughout the day, with possible closures of the highway as both of the prime movers and trailers are recovered from the scene.

The deaths are the 24th, 25th and 26th lives lost on South Australian roads this year.