SA crash victim a 'tragic loss'

The wife of a 56-year-old man who was killed in a horrific crash in Adelaide's south says she's heartbroken by his loss.

A woman whose husband of 37 years was killed in a horrific crash in Adelaide's south says she's heartbroken by his death.

Hallett Cove man Tom Spiess, 56, died shortly after a sewage truck slammed into three stationary cars at a major Adelaide intersection on Monday.

Another driver, Jacqui Byrne, 41, of Ingle Farm, died in hospital on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old male truck driver, of Netley, and a 48-year-old woman, of Hahndorf, are in a critical condition in hospital.

In a statement on Thursday, Jan Spiess said the death of her husband was a tragic loss.

"The family and friends of Tom Spiess wish to express our deep sorrow at the sudden tragic loss of a husband of 37 years, father of two daughters and seven grandchildren," she said.

"We also wish to send our deepest condolences to all other victims and their families of this accident as we are now seeing how far the death of a loved one spreads sadness through the community."

Police are investigating whether brake failure caused the crash and have said it appeared the truck was travelling at considerable speed before the incident.

South Australia's deputy coroner warned this year that the intersection, at the start of the South Eastern Freeway, was likely to be the site of more fatal accidents.

John Posnakidis, 42, died when he was hit by an out-of-control truck at the intersection in 2010.

Handing down preliminary findings into his death, coroner Anthony Schapel said there was "an air of inevitability" that there would be more deaths at the intersection.

Mr Schapel said truck drivers who did not use lower gears while travelling down the South Eastern Freeway should face possible jail time.

In a statement, Sue Posnakidis said she was hopeful the deputy coroner's findings into her brother's death would help prevent further tragic incidents.

"At John's inquest, Mr Schapel said that this will happen again, and it has," she said.

"It has to stop. Truck drivers and motorists need to be protected and safe on the freeway.

"We don't want John's life and the others lost on Monday and in recent years to be lost in vain."

A coronial inquest into the deaths of Mr Spiess and Ms Byrne will commence on Friday.

Mr Schapel said in a statement on Thursday he had decided to start the inquest as soon as possible because it was in the public interest to do so.


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