A teenage reveller from Adelaide’s northern suburbs has died after a horror double car crash on the city’s busiest party strip while on a night out with his “devastated” mates.
In what a friend described as “every parent’s worst nightmare”, the talented footballer, 18, was struck by two cars at 10.50pm on Saturday as dozens of partygoers, and his friends, watched in horror.
The teen, from Greenwith, in the northeastern suburbs, was first hit by a Toyota sedan before he fell into the path of a Ford four-wheel-drive.
He died shortly after in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Friends paid tribute last night to the young man, who is understood to have attended a prominent Adelaide college.
They said he had recently turned 18 and was enjoying an innocent night out with his wide group of friends.
“It is devastating,” one said.
“It is all still pretty raw.
“We’re just trying to wrap our arms around everyone.”
His death sparked calls for further traffic restrictions along Adelaide’s most popular party precinct.
Hayley Eylward, of Aldinga, said officers struggled to keep large groups of drunk people at bay after emergency services rushed to Hindley St, outside its police station.
Hindley St was closed for more than three hours during its busiest period while investigators examined the scene and the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.
Adelaide City Council has set aside funding to upgrade the street by 2030. But one councillor, Mary Couros, yesterday said it required an urgent safety overhaul.
She called for installing bollards and closing the street to traffic on Friday and Saturday nights. “We want our youth to be safe on this street,” she said.
She said the council was investigating measures such as pedestrian safety, pavement extension and more accessibility for Uber and taxi drivers.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said: “This young man had his whole life ahead of him.
“The government’s working with the council to try and see what we can do about these unnecessary pedestrian fatalities (on Hindley St).”
Anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn’t yet spoken with police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000 and quote #200379.