South Australia Police have arrested a truck driver after a horror crash claimed the life of an elderly man on a highway at Inkerman on Thursday morning.
Officers were called to Port Wakefield Highway near Prime Road at about 6.50am, after two trucks ploughed into each other and immediately burst into flames upon impact.
Firefighters remained at the scene for several hours attempting to extinguish the blaze to ensure the area was safe.
A 77-year-old man from Port Augusta, who was understood to be the driver of one of the trucks, died at the scene.
Meanwhile, the second driver and his passenger sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Following investigations, officers arrested a 57-year-old from Marleston on Friday, who was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The man has been issued with an immediate loss of licence and has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 11.
The southbound lanes of the highway were blocked for the entire day of the tragic accident, as traffic was diverted from Port Wakefield to Balaklava and Mallala.
Northbound lanes remained open with speed restrictions in place.
Port Wakefield Highway reopened to drivers from early Friday morning.
The elderly man’s death marks the 26th life lost on SA roads this year.
