Two teenage boys, both aged 17, killed in horror crash at Athelstone
Two teenage boys, both aged 17, have been killed in a horrific car crash in Athelstone. The tragedy comes at the start of National Road Safety Week.
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Two teenagers have been killed in a horror crash in Adelaide’s northeast.
The boys, both 17, died after their silver Holden Viva sedan crashed into a tree on Montacute Rd at 1:53pm on Sunday.
Police said the P-plate driver, of Rostrevor, and his passenger, of Athelstone, both died at the scene.
Major crash officers are investigating if speed and the road conditions contributed to the tragedy.
The crash, which occurred in wintry conditions, left the car almost split in two.
Montacute Rd, which is a major road linking the northeastern suburbs with the Adelaide Hills was closed in both directions between Stradbroke Rd and Maryvale Rd. It has now reopened.
The accident occurred in wet and slippery conditions below a tight corner near a National Parks and Wildlife Service depot.
The silver Holden Viva sedan was heading towards Adelaide down Montacute Rd when it left the road and hit a large gum tree in an embankment.
The victims killed were within the vulnerable road users category – a focus for this year’s National Road Safety Week which was launched on Sunday.
State government figures show young drivers, motorbike riders and people living in regional and remote areas have been placed under the vulnerable road user category, RAA spokesman Charles Mountain said.
Young drivers and riders aged 16-24 represent 21 per cent, or more than 200, of the 973 lives lost on SA roads from he 10 years to the end of 2021.
Almost two thirds of the total fatalities, or 638, happened on regional roads.
The road the crash happened on is notorious for speeding vehicles, particularly performance cars and motorcycles.
Visibility in the area had been poor throughout the day, with low clouds shrouding surrounding hills.
Police on scene at a serious crash on Montacute Road, Athelstone.
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) May 15, 2022
Montacute Road is closed in both directions between Stradbroke Road and Maryvale Road.
Major Crash officers are travelling to the scene.
Please avoid the area if possible. pic.twitter.com/9CpJQMi8nP
The deaths bring the state’s road toll to 30, compared with 40 lives lost at this time last year.
It follows the death of an 18-year-old motorcyclist at Virginia earlier this week.
Valentino Paradiso died when his motorbike crashed into a Holden ute on Old Port Wakefield Rd on Tuesday afternoon.
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