‘Speeding driver’, 20, charged over Adelaide car crash that killed two high-ranking police officers

A driver allegedly involved in a three-car crash that claimed the life of a senior South Australian police officer has been charged over the incident.

Harrison Kitt remains in Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious condition after the crash at Urrbrae in the city’s south on Anzac Day, killing two women. 

Major crash officers charged the 20-year-old with two counts of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving and one count of aggravated causing harm by dangerous driving. 

He was granted bail to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.

Detective Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan, 55, was one of two women who died at the scene following the crash at about 1.40pm on April 26. 

 

Harrison Kitt (pictured) remains in Royal Adelaide Hospital after the crash at Urrbrae in the city’s south on Anzac Day, killing two women

Chief-Supt Shanahan, a veteran of more than three decades with South Australia Police, received a police medal last year as part of the Australia Day Honours

Supt Shanahan was a passenger in a car driven by her husband Peter, a retired police detective who is currently the general counsel for SA Police.  

Tania McNeill, 53, a married mother-of-one and the driver of a silver BMW involved in the crash, also died at the scene. 

‘Words cannot describe the pain our family is feeling at this time,’ her family said in a statement. 

The 20-year-old was allegedly driving the third vehicle involved in the crash, a VW ute.

His sister – who is also a police officer – arrived on the scene of the horrific crash just moments later. 

Witnesses claimed one of the cars ran a red light moments before the deadly collision at the intersection of Cross Road and Fullerton Road. 

Mr Shanahan, who now holds a senior leadership role as the general counsel for SA Police, was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged. 

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens held back tears as he told reporters after her death that Det Chief Supt Shanahan was a ‘dear friend’.

Harrison Kitts, who was involved in a three-car road crash that claimed the life of a senior South Australian police officer has been charged over the incident

High-ranking police officer Joanne Shanahan (left) has been named as one of two women killed in a horrific car crash in Adelaide on Saturday afternoon. Her husband Peter Shanahan (right) survived the collision

‘Sadly, the real tragedy of road fatalities has been brought home to South Australia police when we lost one of our finest senior police officers,’ he said.

The mother-of-two joined the force in 1981 and was appointed the inaugural officer in charge of the family and domestic violence branch. 

Chief-Supt Shanahan joined SA Police in 1981 and she received an Australian Police Medal last year as part of the Australia Day Honours. 

She was only the third woman in the history of the state’s police force to rise to the rank of chief superintendent. 

‘Coming from quite a strict Greek background and going into the police force as a female was quite significant for my family,’ she told The Adelaide Advertiser in January 2019 about her Australia Day award.

Chief-supt Shanahan (pictured) was described as a ‘beautiful person’ and a ‘detective with a wealth of knowledge’ by SA Police commissioner Grant Stevens on Sunday

Scene of the crash pictured. Chief-supt Shanahan died at the scene along with another woman

‘They were totally shocked that their daughter wanted to be a police officer. But when I was accepted they were proud as punch.’ 

Witnesses had told the ABC a Volkswagen four-wheel drive flew into the air before hitting a streetlight. 

Another witness told 9News he saw one of the cars speed through the suburban intersection without its brake lights on seconds before the collision.

Pictures taken after the collision showed wreckage and debris strewn across the road and a car on its side.

South Australia Police Superintendent Craig Wall said it was a ‘horrific scene and tragic for everyone involved’.

‘The scene is … tragic for not only the families but for the emergency services attending here today.’  

Witnesses said a Volkswagen four-wheel drive flew into the air before hitting a streetlight

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