Two men charged over separate serious crashes in February – Jed Bell and Ethan Nicholls – appear in court
Supporters of a BMW driver accused over a cyclist crash on a notorious Hills road have tried to hide him from TV cameras outside court.
Police & Courts
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Two drivers charged over separate serious crashes that occurred just days apart in February – including a crash where a passenger was killed – have appeared in court for the first time.
Ethan Shane Nicholls, 20, of Kensington appeared appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time charged with causing serious harm by dangerous driving.
Police will allege he was driving a silver BMW which seriously injured a 34-year-old male cyclist from Teringie in a crash on Norton Summit Rd, Woodforde about on Sunday, February 11.
There have been dramatic scenes outside court as the family of an accused driver tried to hide him from 7NEWS cameras. Ethan Nicholls was arrested over a crash at Norton Summit that left a cyclist seriously injured. 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGgvkq#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/go3kzl7hfY
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) April 26, 2023
They will allege the BMW was travelling uphill and the cyclist was travelling downhill. The BMW was towed from the scene.
Stuart Rees, prosecuting, told the court Major Crash investigators were still compiling a crash reconstruction report and asked the court to adjourn the matter for 14 weeks for a charge determination hearing.
He said other evidence would include body worn camera footage.
Craig Caldicott, for Nicholls, asked the court for a shorter adjournment or 10-12 weeks.
Outside court Mr Nicholls attempted to dodge waiting TV news cameras while his supporters tried to shield him from view in bizarra scenes.
In a separate and unrelated case, also in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Jed Maxwell Bell, 31, of Wynn Vale appeared charged with aggravated causing death by dangerous driving over a crash at Paracombe that killed his 34-year-old passenger from Athelstone.
Emergency services were called to Paracombe Rd at Paracombe about 6.30pm on February 15, 2023.
Police will allege Bell, who is also charged with driving with excess blood alcohol, had a blood alcohol reading of 0.145 when breathalysed following the crash.
Mr Rees asked the court to adjourn the matter for 12-14 weeks to gather evidence, which was not opposed by Mr Bell’s lawyer, Casey Isaacs.
Mr Bell was on the phone as he left court and did not comment.
Magistrate Justin Wickens adjourned both cases until July.