Devoted dad killed minutes from home after crash at notorious black spot in Hallett Cove

Following the tragic death of an Adelaide motorcyclist, his daughter has shared the small detail bringing her comfort as she calls for action at the notorious black spot.

• Driver reported after Hallett Cove fatal crash

In the final seconds of his life, Mark Hillier looked up at a stranger and smiled.

Moments later, the devoted father and grandfather was gone.

He was killed in a collision just minutes from home after a car allegedly turned into the path of his motorcycle at a notorious intersection in Hallett Cove.

The 58-year-old Sheidow Park man had been riding along Lonsdale Road last Tuesday afternoon when the crash unfolded.

Despite the desperate efforts of bystanders and paramedics, Mark could not be saved.

Mark Hillier with his grandchildren. Picture: Instagram/Cassie Hillier

The driver of the car, a 76-year-old Hallett Cove man, was reported for causing death by careless driving and had his licence immediately stripped. But Mark’s family say they are not consumed by bitterness — only grief.

“I’ve got no qualms with the man,” said his daughter Cass Hillier.

“We all make mistakes. It was just one of those things. I actually feel really sorry for his family and what he’s going to have to live with. Nobody wins in these situations.”

Mark was many things — a maintenance worker by trade, a talented artist, a loyal footy fan — but at his core, he was a gentle soul who lived for his family and friends.

“He looked like a big, scary, rocky man,” Cass said with a smile. “But he was the biggest teddy bear.”

Mark’s motorcycle was his pride and joy. It was a sunny day — a brief break in the weather — and despite his wife Natasha’s warning that it was too cold, he took the bike out for a ride.

“He just wanted one more ride before the bad weather hit,” Cass said. “The next day it rained.”

She said her father had a lifelong love of drawing and often gifted custom artwork to friends and family.

Mark Hillier with his grandchildren. Picture: Supplied

Mark Hillier with his wife, Natasha, and their grandchild. Picture: Supplied

“He’d draw for anyone who asked,” she said. “He loved it. He’d say, ‘No worries, mate. I’ll add it to the list.’”

His Instagram was filled with his sketches, and he entered competitions — not for glory, but for the sheer love of creating something meaningful.

Mark was also a tragic Port Adelaide fan, the kind who would plan his life around the footy fixture.

“He’d miss weddings for that team,” Cass said.

In a touching gesture, the club has promised to keep his membership seat for next season.

But as the tributes pour in, Cass is determined to channel her heartbreak into something more — a push for safety improvements at the place her father died.

“It’s a black spot,” she said. “There was another crash there just hours before Dad’s. The speed limit drops from 100 to 80 and people don’t slow down. It’s chaos.”

Even worse, the crash happened near a school — and young students saw the aftermath unfold in real time.

“A bunch of kids witnessed it. They’re getting psychological help now. No one should have to see that.”

Cass believes the area needs traffic lights or other infrastructure to force drivers to slow down. “Just something to give people time to react,” she said.

Amid the pain, there is one detail that brings her a sliver of comfort.

“One woman who was there said he smiled at her … and then he passed,” she said.

“He used to smile at everyone, so it doesn’t surprise me. That was Dad.”

Originally published as Devoted dad killed minutes from home after crash at notorious black spot in Hallett Cove