SA: Four people killed on SA roads in one day

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2009
SA: Four people killed on SA roads in one day

By Larine Statham

ADELAIDE, Feb 2 AAP - Police have called on drivers to exercise caution in the heatwave
conditions, after four people were killed in two separate incidents on South Australian
roads on Monday.

The deaths, which all occurred in the space of about 12 hours, have brought the state's
road toll to 10 - compared to five at the same time last year.

"It's unacceptable," traffic support operations inspector Tony Crameri told media on Monday.

Two pedestrians were killed at 1am (CDT) on Monday when they were struck by a black
Mercedes sedan in the middle of Kensington Road in Erindale, east of Adelaide.

Insp Crameri said the 52-year-old driver of the vehicle waited with the 32-year-old
man from Hallet Cove and 20-year-old woman from Pooraka for emergency crews to arrive,
but both of them died at the scene.

With skid marks visibly left on the road, Insp Crameri said he did not believe the
driver was intoxicated or speeding at the time and that he had been forthcoming in helping
police with their investigations.

It is understood the pair, believed to be in a relationship, had left a social gathering
at a work colleague's house not long before the incident occurred.

Police said they had been unable to determine whether the couple was crossing the street
or walking in the middle of the road when they were hit.

"Police are asking members of the public, especially in this hot weather, to be mindful
of pedestrians who may be out late at night trying to get relief from the heat," Insp
Crameri said.

"There was a lot more people on the roads, so we ask drivers to be a lot more vigilant
and take care around built-up areas where people may be visiting licensed premises."

With six consecutive days in Adelaide reaching more than 40 degrees, Insp Crameri said
people often became aggressive and fatigued during heatwaves.

In a separate incident, which left a further two people dead, Insp Crameri said he
believed inattentiveness had played a part.

"At this stage it is too early to determine the cause of the crash, however it is believed
that someone disobeyed a road sign," he said.

The accident, which occurred between a car and semi-trailer on Kapunda Road, north
of Adelaide, happened just after 11.30am (CDT).

"At this stage police have not been able to determine the ages or names of the deceased,"

Insp Crameri said.

It is believed the sedan involved in the crash had New South Wales licence plates.

The South Australian road toll last year went down by 20.2 per cent to its lowest level
in more than 60 years with just 99 deaths.

AAP lcs/jm

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