The family and friends are remembering the men who died in two separate Riverland crashes within a half an hour of each other.
A Transurban road-safety ad for awareness around trucks has been mocked online after “blind Freddy” could see the fault was with “the truck tailgating the car,” says Sky News host James Macpherson.
At around 5pm a crash at Renmark West claimed the life of 47-year-old Bradley Pryse – it was only 30 minutes later that a second crash, on the Sturt Hwy, took the life of 43-year-old Bruce Henderson.
Bradley Pryse, 47, remembered as a “cuddly teddy bear” has left his family “heartbroken” after his Yamaha motorbike crashed into a HiLux.
His stepdaughter Beke Buck said Mr Pryse, who lived in Berri, had been her stepfather for 23 years.
“He wasn’t a perfect dad but nobody is, he had struggles but he was a very smart, resourceful man,” she told The Advertiser.
Bradley Pryse, 47, who was killed in a crash Renmark West on Thursday. Picture: Supplied by family
Bradley Pryse, 47, who was killed in a crash Renmark West on Thursday. Picture: Supplied by family
“He was a little rough around the edges, typical tough male but he was a sooky cuddly teddy bear underneath.”
When Ms Buck heard of her stepdad’s passing she was “devastated”.
“It’s always when you least expect it and in the most unlikely ways,” she said.
“We all loved him very much, we are all heartbroken and devastated.”
Ms Buck said “as much as (they) all loved him he wasn’t the most stand up person”.
“His life and legacy is of a man who was so deep into drugs and crime,” she said.
“He left behind a whole family mourning the fact that he never changed and became the man we all knew he could be.
Bradley Pryse, 47, who was killed in a crash Renmark West on Thursday. Picture: Supplied by family
Bradley Pryse, 47, who was killed in a crash Renmark West on Thursday. Picture: Supplied by family
“We loved him regardless of his faults. We are all left hurt and just hoping he has finally found his peace.”
Police were called to Ral Ral Ave after reports of the crash.
Mr Pryse died at the scene. The driver of the HiLux was uninjured.
Major crash investigators are examining the circumstances of the crash.
Mr Pryse was the 9th motorcyclist to die on the road this year.
Bruce Henderson, who died only 30 minutes later on another Riverland road, has been remembered by loved ones as a dear friend and loving father of two.
Bruce Henderson, who was killed in a crash at Paisley near Blanchetown. Picture: Facebook.
Fellow golf players played a special tribute match at the Victor Harbor Golf Course on Saturday to remember the avid golfer.
Friends and colleagues also described the civil engineer as “a lovely man” who was “family oriented” and “passionate”.
9News reported that the father was leaving Renmark and heading back to Adelaide on Thursday night when he was involved in a crash on the Sturt Hwy at Paisley.
Bruce Henderson was on his way back to Adelaide from Renmark at the time of the accident. Picture: Facebook.
The crash involved two other cars and a truck.
Major Crash Investigators spent several hours at the scene to determine the cause of the crash.
A 27-year-old man, from West Croydon, has since been arrested and charged with cause death by dangerous driving.
Mr Pryse and Mr Henderson’s deaths were the 51st and 52nd lives lost this year, compared with 31 at the same time last year.