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Outrage as alleged teen joyriders face court after fatal crash that killed Adelaide mother

An Adelaide family is in mourning after a devoted mother lost her life in a horrific crash on Thursday night.

Two teenagers in an allegedly stolen ute slammed into her car at close to 200 kilometres per hour, causing it to burst into flames.

Motorists watched in horror as the 15-year-old driver allegedly lost control and slammed into the back of another car at Bedford Park.

Amateur video captured the horrific scenes that confronted motorists and emergency workers in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Photo: 7 News/Supplied
Amateur video captured the horrific scenes that confronted motorists and emergency workers in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Photo: 7 News/Supplied

The two teenagers allegedly fled, leaving a scene of devastation behind.

Police arrested the pair within 40 minutes, one was near the Flinders Medical Centre, the other at an Oaklands Park address.

The victim was 48-year-old Panorama mother of two Nicole Elise Tucker.

One of the vehicles was barely recognisable after the crash. Photo: 7 News
One of the vehicles was barely recognisable after the crash. Photo: 7 News

Her family have released a statement saying they are devastated by the “senseless death of their beloved wife and mother”.

Ms Tucker's family have been left devastated after her life was cut short.
Ms Tucker's family have been left devastated after her life was cut short.

They have described Ms Tucker as a loving person, devoted to her family and said her life has been cut short too early.

Police said two other drivers were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Major crash investigators painstakingly examined the scene to recreate the chain of events.

Convicted killer goes 'missing' from Adelaide prison work program

They know the ute and Ms Tucker’s car were both travelling in the same direction in the city, turning off the Southern Expressway onto Main South Road.

“He did hit the rear of the car, there may have been a concertina effect of that vehicle going across into another carriageway with two other vehicles involved, “ Superintendent Lyn Dunstan said.

Police will alleged the 15-year-old driver broke into a house at Onkaparinga Hills and stole the ute before going on a joyride with his mate.

A police officer on a motorcycle who saw the speeding ute and used his red and blue flashing lights to try to pull it over.

He turned them off when the ute sped off. It passed another police vehicle seconds before the crash.

“The green stolen ute passed that marked police car at an estimated speed in excess of 160 kilometres per hour,” police alleged.

The stolen ute passed a police motorcycle and another police vehicle before the fatal crash. Photo: 7 News
The stolen ute passed a police motorcycle and another police vehicle before the fatal crash. Photo: 7 News

The crash blocked off South Road between Sturt and Flagstaff Hill Roads for more than 12 hours causing traffic chaos for peak hour commuters.

Doctors, nurses and patients trying to get to and from the Flinders Medical Centre were delayed. Some ambulances needed police escorts to get through.

The tragedy has since sparked public outrage.

“To think that some innocent people sitting at lights, one of them’s lost their lives, apparently. It’s pretty devastating,” one resident said.


What are they gonna to do to me… I’m a juvenile

As South Australians reel from the senseless and tragic death of Nicole Tucker, 7 News can provide some insights into the background of the alleged offenders.

They are believed to be brothers, and it is understood one of them is under the guardianship of the minister, living in a government run facility.

The 15-year-old accused of driving the stolen ute had been living at a government run facility south of Adelaide.

It is a group home for children known as GOMs, or Guardians of the Minister.

It is said to be a facility for children with nowhere else to go and is run by carers.

It is unclear where the older brother was living before Thursday’s crash.

Disturbingly, one of them is alleged to have said to an arresting officer, “What are they gonna to do to me … I’m a juvenile”

Families SA released a statement saying: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and while we’re not in a position to release information about the individuals involved, the department will assist the police investigation in every way”.

One of the accused teenagers is walking into the Youth Court in handcuffs. Photo: 7 News
One of the accused teenagers is walking into the Youth Court in handcuffs. Photo: 7 News

The pair made their first appearance in the Youth Court on Friday.

The youths appeared separately, wearing white forensic overalls. One of them was sporting a large bloodied graze to his left elbow.

The defendants were remanded in detention until November.


Traffic mayhem, roads closed for hours

With the accident occurring near the entrance of Adelaide’s Southern Expressway, the peak hour commute for thousands of motorists ground to a halt.

South Road remained closed between Marion and Sturt Roads all night, and most of Friday morning.

Vehicles were backed up on the city bound lanes of the expressway for kilometres as major crash investigators tried to piece together what happened.

Gridlock for kilometres along the Southern Expressway as two of Adelaide's major roads were shut down after the crash. Photo: 7 News
Gridlock for kilometres along the Southern Expressway as two of Adelaide's major roads were shut down after the crash. Photo: 7 News

South Australia Police superintendent Lyn Dunstan said investigators appreciated motorists’ patience.

“… Because of the nature of the incident and the scale, it has taken some time to review and analyse the scene, which is essentially a crime scene,” he said.

The delays came on top of existing obstacles on South Road as part of the Darlington upgrade project.