Five seriously hurt in crash on Main Rd, McLaren Vale, days after local council ordered safety audit on road

Five elderly people are in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on a notorious McLaren Vale road – one that’s already seen two lives lost this year.

Five people are recovering in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on a notorious road in McLaren Vale on Sunday afternoon.

The crash happened at the intersection of Main Road and Johnson Road about 3.30pm.

Emergency services were called to the road after a Hyundai sedan and Mitsubishi wagon collided.

Initial reports last night said four people had been hurt in the smash. But that figure was revised up to five by SA Police on Monday morning.

Three occupants of the Hyundai – a 70-year-old woman, 72-year-old woman and 89-year-old woman – and two people in the Mitsubishi – a 77-year-old-man and 73-year-old woman – were all taken to hospital.

An accident at the same stretch of Main Rd, McLaren Vale, on March 28. Picture: 7NEWS

They are all in a serious but stable condition.

The intersection was closed while emergency services examined the crash scene, but has now been reopened and the cars towed away.

Several people took to Facebook to voice their concerns over the safety of the road.

“Yet another accident on this road. When is something going to be done? It’s lethal,” Leesa Doyle commented on a SA Police Facebook post.

Frances Reed said she avoided the crash by just 10 minutes.

“So glad I went the other way!” she wrote.

“As previously said, second major crash at this junction in a few weeks. It needs to have a stop sign, not a give way!”

Onkaparinga Council announced a safety audit of Main Road and all its intersections between McLaren Vale and Willunga on Tuesday, after two fatal crashes this year on the notorious stretch.

Ivy-Rose Hughes, 19, died in a crash at the intersection of Main Road and Malpas Road on February 24. The Banksia Park woman was remembered as a netball star who was a bright spark among many.

19-year-old netballer Ivy-Rose Hughes was killed in a motor accident at McLaren Vale in February. Picture: Matrics Netball Club

Bernice Sternberg, 61, was among six injured in a crash on Main Road and McMurtrie Road on March 28. The Willunga woman died from her injuries in hospital on April 3.

The driver who allegedly caused the crash, a 56-year-old Whyalla man, was charged.

McLaren Vale teacher Bernice Sternberg. Picture: Facebook

Onkaparinga Councillor Wayne Olsen, who moved the motion, said the audit of Main Road was brought about by the recent fatalities.

“We’ve got to move forwards and make sure it’s as safe as we can make it for the remainder of the community,” Mr Olsen said.

“It’s making sure that those intersections along that Main Road in particular have the most suitable safety devices and pre-warnings that are applicable and to make sure it’s current and meets the standards.”

As part of the audit the council will assess the adequacy, quality and location of signage and linemarking and assess potential for the installation of additional warning signage.

It will also determine if the existing intersections meet Australian Standards, Austroads guidelines and Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) requirements.