A young woman from Adelaide has tragically lost her life after being struck by a garbage truck just metres from her home. Emergency services were dispatched to Melrose Street in Melrose Park, located in Adelaide's northern suburbs, at approximately 9:45 AM on Wednesday following reports of a pedestrian being hit. Several streets were closed off for hours as police and paramedics rushed to the scene to provide assistance.
Witness recalls the incident
A local resident told 7NEWS that he heard the moment the woman was hit and immediately ran outside in an attempt to help. The 23-year-old victim was on her way to the bus stop to travel to work at a burger bar in Adelaide's East End when the Tea Tree Gully Council garbage truck struck her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Official response and investigation
Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce expressed her condolences, stating, "My heart goes out not only to the families impacted, the individuals impacted, and the communities, but the first responders that go out to attend to these scenarios as well. They go out each and every day to provide support for the scenario." Major Crash investigators examined the scene thoroughly, while a specialist mechanic from the Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit inspected the truck involved in the incident.
Police confirmed that the driver, a 48-year-old man from Prospect, did not sustain any physical injuries. Following the investigation, he has been reported for careless driving causing death, has received an immediate licence suspension, and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
