Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins was planning Hills move before death at Medindie
Friends of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins have revealed her Hills dream, as new details emerge about the harrowing moments leading up to her death alongside her husband’s ute.
SA News
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Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins was planning a life in the Hills, her friends say, as new details emerge about the moments leading up to her death alongside her husband’s ute at Medindie.
Friends told how the couple, who bought their $2.45m mansion in 2019 but who only moved in only recently, were planning post-retirement life in South Australia.
This potentially involved launching their own Adelaide Hills vineyard.
But on Saturday, Hoskins was allegedly killed by her husband – one of Australia’s top sportsmen – while he was driving a luxury car outside their affluent Adelaide home.
Mother-of-two Melissa Hoskins, 32, died on Saturday night after the family’s dark grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute struck her on Avenel Gardens Rd, Medindie.
Major Crash police have charged her husband, former world champion cyclist and Olympian Rohan Dennis, 33, with killing her.
The Advertiser understands police will allege Hoskins, also a retired professional cyclist and Olympian, jumped onto the car bonnet and then grabbed at a door handle.
Officers will allege Dennis, a dual world champion who retired from his 16-year cycling career last year, continued to drive the 4WD until she fell to the ground.
Detectives believe she may have been dragged some distance along the leafy street, which is located in one of the state’s most expensive suburbs in Adelaide’s inner north.
It is believed some of the incident was caught on neighbours’ security cameras.
Ms Hoskins, originally from Perth, later died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital from catastrophic injuries.
As worldwide tributes were paid to Hoskins – a dual Olympian who competed at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio events and was also a world champion – teenage neighbours were hailed heroes for trying to save her.
Neighbours told how the teenage pair, who lived near the crash scene, frantically tried to render first aid before paramedics arrived just before 8.30pm on Saturday.
Their family declined to comment.
Her WA-based family were too distressed to publicly comment as friends and family comforted them and the cycling world rallied.
It is unclear what sparked the incident but police say investigations are ongoing.
Major Crash officers, along with Eastern Adelaide CIB detectives, have charged Dennis with causing her death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life. Dennis, her husband of almost six years who was one of the world’s best cyclists, was granted police bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
He has yet to plead to the charges, which if found guilty of faces a maximum 15-year prison term and mandatory minimum 10-year licence disqualification.
But new laws came into effect on New Year’s Day that give police the powers to suspend a driver’s licence on the spot when they are involved in a serious crash. they were introduced in the wake of the tragic death of teenager Sophia Naismith, 15.
No immediate loss of licence was issued to Dennis.
Authorities have seized Dennis’ $70,000 vehicle, which he is believed to have bought a year ago.
Investigators were seen checking under the parked car while finger print dust were observed on its bonnet.
Dennis, who did not return calls, was last night also dumped from SA’s Tour Down Under appearance – the nation’s flagship cycling tour event he won in 2015.
He has spoken publicly of his mental health battles over the years and how he had learned to channel his anger and emotions arising from his experiences on the pro-circuit onto his bike. Friends say his wife was a calming influence.
Late on Monday, friends and family flew in and out of his house where he is believed to have been bailed to.
A man, believed to be aged in his 30s, carried a container full of food into the back entrance while his parents, Brenton, 63, and Debbie, 62, left without comment before appearing solemn as they drove away in a Volkswagen sedan.
Neighbours told how the Dennis family celebrated Christmas at the eastern suburbs home they moved in a week ago, after relocating from a Flinders Park property they had lived in for five years.
Carol Williams, 86, who lives next door said they were a lovely couple, with Brenton introducing himself when he moved just before Christmas.
“They were at Christmas, they had family over but I haven’t seen them since,” she said.
“I feel really sad for them, it’s awful.
“They’re very nice, I get on very well with them – they put up with my dog barking.”
The couple, who were married in February 2018, posted on social media with their two young children just before Christmas.
Dennis, a luxury and fast car enthusiast, owns several properties in Adelaide including where his parents now live and an Hills property.
Hoskins’ death was the 114th life lost on SA roads last year, compared with 71 at the same time in 2022.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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