A 20-year-old woman has been charged after a tragic accident in South Australia that claimed the life of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant who was travelling in a wheelchair. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the van the young woman was driving veered off the road and collided with a tree in Hayborough, approximately 84 kilometres south of Adelaide.
The 59-year-old passenger, Debbie Johnston, a wheelchair user from Davoren Park, tragically lost her life in the crash. Two other individuals in the van, the driver and a 30-year-old woman from Croydon Park, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment.
South Australia’s Major Crash Investigators arrested the 20-year-old driver the following evening. She faces charges of causing death by careless driving and causing injury by careless driving. As a result of these charges, she has been issued with an immediate and indefinite loss of licence. The young woman has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear before Christies Beach Magistrates Court in mid-November.
The van involved in the accident was operated by Care Assure, an Adelaide-based NDIS provider. A spokesperson for the organisation confirmed that the driver had been appropriately trained and qualified to operate the vehicle. “Care Assure’s thoughts are with the participant’s family, our injured staff, and all those affected by this tragic incident,” the spokesperson stated. “We prioritise the safety of our participants and staff and are fully cooperating with investigators to assist in this matter.”
In addition to the police investigation, SafeWork SA has launched its own inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash, given the involvement of a worker from a disability support provider.
The incident brings the state’s road toll to 60 this year.
