An 18-year-old footballer died after being hit by two vehicles on Hindley Street in Adelaide on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 10:50 p.m. as the teenager was on a night out with friends.
Campbell Thorp, from the northern suburbs of Adelaide, was first struck by a Toyota sedan and subsequently fell into the path of a Ford four-wheel drive. He sustained catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Friends described the event as devastating and expressed efforts to support those affected. Thorp, who had recently celebrated his 18th birthday, was understood to have attended a prominent Adelaide college.
The tragedy has reignited calls for enhanced traffic restrictions on Hindley Street, a well-known nightlife area. Adelaide City Council has allocated funding for street upgrades by 2030, but local councilor Mary Couros stated that immediate action is necessary. Couros proposed the installation of bollards and the temporary closure of the street to vehicle traffic on Friday and Saturday nights to improve pedestrian safety.
Council is also exploring other safety measures, including expanded pavements and improved access for ride-sharing and taxi services. Witnesses reported that police had difficulty managing crowds as emergency services responded to the scene, which was located near a police station. Major Crash investigators worked at the scene for over three hours, leading to the road reopening shortly after 2:15 a.m. on Sunday.
Authorities are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet come forward to contact Crime Stoppers, referencing number 200379.