South Australia is reeling from a devastating and deadly start to the new year, with the state's road toll climbing to nine after a series of separate fatal crashes that authorities have labelled a horror beginning to 2026.
Kalangadoo Crash Claims Life of Millicent Man
The latest tragedy occurred on Wednesday, January 14, when a 74-year-old man from Millicent died after his Toyota ute left the road, struck a tree, and burst into flames near Kalangadoo. Emergency services were called to Mount McIntyre Road just after 6.30pm following reports of the crash and fire.
The intense blaze spread to a nearby paddock before fire crews managed to bring it under control. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene. Mount McIntyre Road remains closed between Manga Road and Nangkita Road as Major Crash investigators work to determine the cause of the fatal collision.
A Deepening Crisis on SA Roads
This death marks the ninth life lost on South Australian roads in the first weeks of 2026, raising serious concerns about the state's rapidly escalating road toll. The situation draws a grim comparison to recent years, with 11 deaths recorded in January 2025, which was itself the worst start to a year since 2023.
The Kalangadoo incident followed another heartbreaking crash just hours earlier on Wednesday morning, which claimed the life of a young Adelaide man.
Tributes Flow for "Sweet and Special" Teen
Nineteen-year-old Lachlan Slade was killed when the car he was driving left the road and collided with a tree. Police reported the vehicle was torn apart on impact, leaving the young driver with no chance of survival.
Loved ones have flooded social media with emotional tributes, remembering Slade as a cherished friend and family member. Friend Baylee Waldron shared a series of photos, writing that he was "loved by so many" and describing him as the "funniest, sweetest, most interesting and special human on this planet" and "the biggest gentleman I have EVER met."
A GoFundMe page organised by close family friend Sarah Waldron has raised more than $11,000 to support Slade's family. In her tribute, Waldron wrote that their world has not been the same since the crash, remembering Lachie as a kind and funny person who had a unique way of making people feel seen and loved.
As investigations into both crashes continue, the consecutive tragedies have cast a pall over the community and intensified calls for greater road safety awareness across South Australia.
