‘Like a bomb’: Two dead after horror crash in South Australia

There have been mass casualties in a devastating incident involving a truck and three cars on Monday afternoon.

A witness to a devastating multi-vehicle crash that killed two women and left seven others injured has described the scene as looking “like a bomb had gone off”.

South Australian police say a truck and trailer collided with three cars on Main South Rd, Wattle Flat about 12.15pm on Monday afternoon.

Two women travelling in the back seat of a silver Ford sedan died from their injuries, including a 44-year-old woman who died at the scene on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Seven others were injured in the crash, some of them critically including the 43-year-old male driver of the silver Ford.

Images from the crash site – located about 70km from Adelaide – show the carnage with significant damage visible to the cars involved.

One appeared to have its side missing, and another had been pushed into a roadside barrier.

A semi-trailer full of rubbish had also become detached from the truck and turned onto its side, spilling debris across the road.

The scene of a serious accident near Wattle Flat, south of Myponga on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Major Crash detectives examined the scene on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

On Monday, 7News reported the truck driver was returning home from Adelaide after picking up rubbish from a tip when the collision occurred.

The truck driver, a 35-year-old man from Victor Harbor, has been arrested and charged with two counts of cause death by dangerous driving, two counts of cause serious harm by dangerous driving and four counts of cause harm by dangerous driving.

Normanville resident Gavin Schubert, 72, told The Advertiser he drove past the crash scene and described it as “horrific”.

“It was like a bomb had gone off,” Mr Schubert said.

Emergency services treated people at the scene. Picture: 7NEWS

“There was one car in a driveway that looked like it had been hit in the driver’s seat, and there was a ute, and the ambulance got working on (a man inside), and another car finished up in the guard rails.

“It threw me while I was driving – you don’t expect to see that.”

Main South Rd was closed for several hours between Pyne Hill and Forktree roads as Major Crash officers examined the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any dashcam footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

The deaths were the 74th and 75th lives lost on South Australian roads so far in 2024.

Originally published as ‘Like a bomb’: Two dead after horror crash in South Australia