Footy club shares 'immense sadness' after 18yo fatally hit by cars

Tributes flow for Campbell Thorp who died in Hindley Street crash Mon 3 Aug 2026 at 1:42pm In short: An outpouring of love is being shared for 18-year-old Campbell Thorp, who was fatally struck by cars on Hindley Street in Adelaide's CBD. The crash has reignited calls from several Adelaide councillors to make Hindley Street safer for pedestrians. What's next? SA Transport Minister said the government "stand ready to work with" the Adelaide City Council. The Adelaide community is mourning the "heartbreaking loss" of a young footballer and apprentice who died from being hit by two cars, as calls for an urgent safety overhaul of a popular nightlife strip reignite. Campbell Thorp, 18, died in hospital after the collision on Hindley Street at about 10:50pm on Saturday. Police said the Greenwith man was hit by a car before falling into the path of a four-wheel-drive. On Monday, Mr Thorp's football club said it was mourning "the loss of one of our own". "It is with immense sadness that the Tea Tree Gully District Football Club acknowledges the tragic passing of Campbell Thorp," a club statement said. "Campbell was part of a family that has given so much to our football club over many years. "The Thorp family are highly respected and valued members of our community, and our hearts go out to them during this unimaginable time. "Many of our players, coaches, volunteers, members and friends have been impacted, and we know this news will be felt across our entire football family." The club said it would continue to support the player's family and their members. Mr Thorp was a first year carpentry apprentice with Adelaide Training & Employment Centre, which also paid tribute to the young man. "His passing is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Campbell's family, friends, workmates, the Haywood Co. team, and everyone whose lives he touched," the company said in a statement. "Campbell will be remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing and training alongside him." One-way, night closures or shared street? The fatal crash has reignited calls from several Adelaide city councillors to make Hindley Street safer for pedestrians. Councillor Patrick Maher told 891 ABC Adelaide an upgrade of the city's party district has had "an element of urgency for some years". He suggested making the street one way, from west to east, to reduce the number of vehicles. "It's quite upsetting that it takes a tragedy for everyone to come around to this problem again," he said. "By making it one way you can keep all of the regular traffic off the street, you can have your commercial loading on the street as it currently is, you can have your bus loading for the hotels, you can have your taxis and rideshare, and that's pretty much it," he said. He said such a measure could be enacted as soon as tomorrow "without an infrastructure change". Councillor Mary Couros told 891 ABC Adelaide Hindley Street could be closed to vehicles on Friday and Saturday nights, similar to an arrangement elsewhere in the city. "It would work in a very high safety aspect for pedestrians, and to be able to function in that night-time economy that Hindley Street does have, without taking away the daytime economy that the street has as well,"she said. The Adelaide City Council is in the planning stages of its Hindley Street Revitalisation project, to be completed in 2030. SA Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the state government "stand ready to work with" the council, which controlled and managed the CBD's major arterial roads. "I don't know what the implications would be on the broader network if Hindley Street was made for no cars, but what I'd like to do is if the council want to work with the government on a plan, we're up for it," he said. Police urged any witnesses to the crash who have yet to reach out to contact Crime Stoppers. Mr Thorp's death was the 70th life lost on South Australian roads this year.