Fatal crash on Eyre Highway

Описание: Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott spoke to the media about an investigation into a fatal crash on the Eyre Highway yesterday afternoon.

About 10.30am on Saturday 3 January, police were advised of a petrol drive off at a Port Augusta service station involving a blue Ford sedan, which had been reported stolen from a Port Augusta home on Friday.

The stolen vehicle was seen by patrols just before 11am in the township of Port Augusta. The vehicle was briefly pursued before terminated for safety reasons and was last seen heading towards Whyalla.

The stolen Ford was spotted several times in Whyalla before PolAir arrived about 1.30pm to assist with tracking the vehicle.

PolAir followed the vehicle as it travelled onto Iron Knob Road and then west on to the Eyre Highway towards Kimba.

The vehicle entered a highway rest area and police managed to spike the car’s tyres as it exited and headed east towards Iron Knob.

About 1.8km east of the rest stop, the Ford lost control and crashed about 2.45pm.

The driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was found unconscious and responding police immediately commenced CPR. Despite the officers’ efforts, the 33-year-old Hilton man could not be revived, and he sadly died at the scene.  

Due to the man actively evading apprehension by police, this incident will be investigated as a death in custody.

Major Crash Investigators attended the scene along with officers from the Internal Investigation Section.

Major Crash officers will be returning to the crash site this morning to complete their investigation.

The Eyre Highway was closed between Kimba and Iron Knob but has since reopened.