Crashes on South Australia's roads have claimed four lives in less than 24 hours, prompting police to plead with drivers to slow down as this year's death toll continues to surge.
The fatalities include an elderly pedestrian who died in hospital today after she was hit on Friday, and a driver whose car hit a power pole this afternoon at Tantanoola in the state's south-east.
Emergency services were called to that crash scene on Mile Hill Road just before 1:30pm.
The car had hit the pole with such force that the concrete and metal structure had split and fallen across the road.
A 32-year-old man from Millicent was the car's only occupant and was killed at the scene.
His death has taken the state's annual road toll to 51, compared to 30 at the same time last year.
South Australia Police Superintendent Bob Gray said the past 24 hours "could only be described as an horrific period".
"Every collision on our roads this year that's ended in a fatality was totally 100 per cent avoidable, and that's the concerning thing for police," he said.
"Take responsibility and don't be complacent on our roads because you could be the next person — a police officer has to knock at your door and tell someone who loves you that you won't be coming home."
Yesterday, another young man from the south-east was killed when the car he was driving hit a tree at Glenburnie, near Mount Gambier.
The crash happened on Fairbanks Road, close to the local saleyards, about 5:45pm and the 23-year-old Mount Gambier man died at the scene.
"At this point in time it seems that speed was a major factor in that collision," Superintendent Gray said.
"Twenty-one per cent of people who have lost their lives [this year] have been exceeding the speed limit. Speed's been a factor."
Elderly pedestrian dies in hospital
Late last night, a 56-year-old woman was killed when her car hit a tree at Onkaparinga Hills in Adelaide's south.
Emergency services were called to the scene, at Upper Penny's Hill Road and Piggott Range Road, just after 11:10pm.
A 78-year-old Belair woman died today after she was hit by a car on Main Road at Blackwood just after midday on Friday.
The woman was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre in a critical condition but police said she had succumbed to her injuries.
An 82-year-old Goolwa man remains in a critical condition after his car hit a tree just before 4:00pm on Sunday near Finniss on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
"Enough people have lost their lives and been seriously injured," Superintendent Gray said.
"Police are pleading with motorists and road users to please be responsible."
