Truck Driver Charged After Fatal Fiery Crash on Port Wakefield Highway
A truck driver has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a deadly two-truck collision on the Port Wakefield Highway near Inkerman, South Australia.
The crash occurred around 6:50am on Thursday, approximately 15 kilometres south of Port Wakefield. The impact caused both vehicles to erupt in flames, with thick smoke rising above the highway as firefighters battled the blaze for several hours.
One of the drivers, a 77-year-old man from Port Augusta, died at the scene. The other driver, a 57-year-old Marleston man, and his passenger sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital.
South Australia Police confirmed that Major Crash Investigators arrested the surviving truck driver, charging him with causing death by dangerous driving. He was issued an immediate licence suspension and is set to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June.
The Port Augusta man’s death marks the 26th fatality on South Australian roads in 2025.
The crash forced the closure of the southbound lanes of the highway for the entire day, with traffic diverted through Balaklava and Mallala, resulting in major delays.
Police are urging anyone who saw the trucks before the crash, has dash cam footage, or observed weather conditions at the time, to contact investigators on 131 444.
