Driver, 18, in critical condition after horror truck and ute crash at Uleybury in Adelaide’s northeast

A teenage tradie on his way to work suffered critical injuries after a horror smash between his ute and a truck. His boss has shared his shock from the scene.

An 18-year-old tradie from Lewiston is in a critical condition after a horror smash between his ute and a truck on Friday morning.

Initial reports from emergency services on Friday morning were that the 18-year-old driver had been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

His condition has since been updated as critical. The young man’s boss arrived at the scene not long after and was left shocked by the site of the wreck of his employee’s ute, sharing his disbelief.

Emergency services were called to Medlow Rd after reports of a crash involving a truck and ute about 6.30am.

The mangled wreck of an 18-year-old tradie’s ute after the crash at Uleybury on Friday morning. Picture: Sam Lowe

At the scene, debris was strewn across the road while the 18-year-old tradie’s white Holden Commodore ute was crumpled and in pieces. Picture: Sam Lowe

A semi, carrying two trailers, was across both lanes of the road further from the ute. The bottom of the driver’s side of the cabin was badly damaged and the front right tyre had burst.

The driver of the truck, a 56-year-old man from Highbury, was not injured in the crash.

A nearby resident said he called the ambulance at 6.34am after hearing a big bang.

The young tradie’s boss, who did not want to be named, attended the crash about 8.40am to collect personal belongings from the mangled wreck before heading to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

“I was on the way to work and thought I’d call to check in on him and then the ambulance picked up,” the man said.

The crash was between a truck and the ute on Medlow Rd. Picture: Sam Lowe

Road closures were in place while tow trucks and emergency services cleared the scene. Picture: Sam Lowe

“I was driving on a nearby road and saw the lights and the crash and put two and two together and turned around and ended up here.”

The worried boss said he heard the teen talking in the background of the phone call.

“When I called he was in the ambulance, he’s alive which is all that matters, but I heard him in the background mumbling and groaning,” he said.

“I’m shocked to be honest, he’s an 18-year-old kid, he’s a good, hard-working kid.”

Police at the scene said the driver of both the ute and vehicle were taken to hospital.

Medlow Rd at the intersection of Craigmore Rd was closed into the mid-morning as tow trucks, police and CFS crews cleared the scene.

Originally published as Driver, 18, in critical condition after horror truck and ute crash at Uleybury in Adelaide’s northeast