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Couple killed in fiery crash after ‘crossing onto wrong side of road’

A horror highway crash has claimed the lives of an elderly couple in South Australia.

A fireball erupted when their car collided head-on with a truck on Thursday morning on the Augusta Highway between Redhill and Snowtown.

The 90-year-old Port Pirie man and his parter, a 76-year-old woman, also from Port Pirie, were killed when police believe they crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided head on with the prime mover.

The truckie, a 53-year-old man and his young grandson were airlifted to Adelaide with minor injuries.

A fireball erupted on the Augusta Highway after a car and truck collided on Thursday morning. Source: 7News
A fireball erupted on the Augusta Highway after a car and truck collided on Thursday morning. Source: 7News

A driver towing a caravan spotted the accident ahead and in a desperate attempt to avoid it rolled his vehicle.

He escaped injury but his caravan was destroyed by fire.

“There’s not really much to say. It’s a horrific scene. It’s distressing for everyone, and we just urge everyone to take care, drive to the conditions,” SA Police Inspector Allison Clark said.

A 90-year-old Port Pirie man and a 76-year-old Port Pirie woman died in the accident. Source: 7News
A 90-year-old Port Pirie man and a 76-year-old Port Pirie woman died in the accident. Source: 7News

The flames quickly tore through dry grass in scorching conditions.

Emergency services descended and on the worst bushfire danger day so far this season, Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers worked frantically to extinguish the fire.

“The potential for that fire could have been a lot worse and that could have run down potentially towards Snowtown,” Nik Stanley from CFS said.

Police said about three acres of grass was burnt before the blaze was extinguished.