No One Should Ever Have to Endure This: Heartbreaking Tributes Pour In from the Community Following the Tragic Loss of Young Campbell Thorp
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”.
Campbell Thorp died after being hit by cars on Hindley Street on Saturday night. (Facebook: Tea Tree Gully District Football Club)
“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.
The community is mourning the loss of Campbell Thorp who was fatally hit by cars on Hindley Street. (Supplied: Trinity College)
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.”
His former high school Trinity College said the student’s contribution would be “remembered with great fondness”.
“Campbell was a positive individual making an impact on those around them, demonstrating great leadership skills and warmth in his presence. He will be greatly missed,” the school statement reads.
Hindley Street is one the city’s nightlife precinct. (ABC News: Brant Cumming)
Pedestrian safety a focus
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.
Patrick Maher says Hindley Street should be made one way for vehicle traffic. (ABC News: Carl Saville)
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.
Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said she would wait to see the outcome of the police investigation before considering changes to traffic on Hindley Street.
“My view is, no thought bubbles, no knee jerks, let’s just keep calm, get the facts and then consider what, if anything, needs to be done,” she said.
“This case only occurred two days ago and really out of respect for those who are suffering from this tragedy, we don’t need to predict or comment until the police have had their work done.
“As a parent, to lose a young person of that age it is an unthinkable pain and we have to recognise and show respect for the family and those involved and not try to jump to conclusions yet.”
Several Adelaide city councillors have called for increased pedestrian safety on Hindley Street. (ABC News: Brant Cumming)
The Adelaide City Council is in the planning stages of its Hindley Street Revitalisation project, to be completed in 2030.
SA Treasurer 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.
Local business impacts
Tajwarul Islam works at a convenience store along Hindley Street.
He said closing it to vehicles would take a toll on the business but believed it would overall be a positive.
“Just let Ubers drop you off on the corners of the street and you can walk all the way, it’s not that big of a street anyway,” he said.
James Quire says he supports banning cars on Hindley Street on Friday and Saturday nights. (ABC News)
Pub manager James Quire said he supported lower speed limits for vehicles and an increased police presence.
He said he would also support road closures after dark on Fridays and Saturdays.
“Maybe the winter months would be a bit of an issue but certainly if you could do it just for a month in summer, I think it would be great,” 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.
SOURCE: ABC
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/tributes-flow-for-man-who-died-in-hindley-street-crash/106989722
