Father and grandmother killed, after crash on Augusta Highway, near Baroota, north of Port Pirie

A father and his mother have been killed, and his two sons seriously injured after a shocking crash north of Port Pirie on their way to pick up a birthday present.

A family was on its way to pick up a birthday present when tragedy struck in a horror crash at Baroota that left a father and his mother dead, and two boys seriously injured.

The driver of the Holden ute, a man, 40, and his mother, 61, both of Whyalla Norrie, were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree on the Augusta Highway, north of Port Pirie, on Wednesday about 3.30pm.

Two boys aged 11 and 14, named Jesse and Rory – the man’s sons – suffered serious injuries and were flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.

The teenager remains in a serious but stable condition, while the 11-year-old is in a stable condition.

Superintendent Bob Gray from the Traffic Services Branch said the crash was catastrophic for the family.

The scene of the crash on the Augusta Highway on Wednesday night. Picture: 7NEWS

Police at the scene of a fatal crash at Baroota, on the Augusta Highway. Picture: Cam Inglis/10NewsFirst Adelaide

“You’ve got an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old that now have the prospect of going through the rest of their lives without their father and without their grandmother, and that’s very sad, and it’s catastrophic,” Superintendent Gray said.

“It’s obviously a tragedy. A wife has lost her husband, she’s lost her mother-in-law and she has two children seriously injured.”

A fundraiser was created on Thursday night, to assist with ongoing costs following the crash.

“It’s going to be a long road ahead as this accident leaves us in a financial crisis, as we have to commute between Whyalla and Adelaide in the coming months ahead,” the organiser wrote.

Superintendent Gray said the family were on their way to Port Pirie to pick up a birthday present when the crash occurred.

Major Crash Investigators examined the scene for several hours but are yet to determine the cause of the crash.

Superintendent Gray said the tragedy was a timely reminder to the community of the consequences of road crashes.

Flowers left in tribute for the man and his mother after the scene of the crash at Baroota. Picture: 7NEWS

The man and his mother died in the crash, while his two sons were injured. Picture: 7NEWS

“I think people often look at lives lost as a number and don’t actually spend the time to reflect on what that actually means, and the consequences for the families involved,” he said.

“And it’s not just people that lose their lives, it’s people that are seriously injured as well, because quite often, the quality of life for those people changes forever.

“I implore people to be cautious, drive safely, and consider the consequences and implications of your actions when using our roads, because they are significant.”

The deaths take the number of lives lost to 61, compared with 56 at the same time last year.

Anyone with dashcam footage involving the Holden ute around the time of the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Donate to the family’s fundraiser here.