A family is in shock over the death of their son who tragically died only metres from home after what was first thought to be a car crash.

That crash is now being treated as a major crime after police discovered the 24-year-old man’s injuries were not consistent with a vehicle accident.

Emergency services were called to Golflands View at Morphett Vale in Adelaide’s south about 1.30am on Wednesday after a red BMW slammed into an electricity pole.

The driver has since been identified as Caleb Leriano, a 24-year-old chef.

He died only 100 metres from home.

Police and paramedics fought to save Caleb, but he tragically died at the scene.

His father Mike Leriano told 7NEWS that his son was a “a jovial young man from Kenya who was pursuing his Australian dream.”

What initially appeared to be a single‑vehicle crash quickly escalated when emergency services realised Caleb’s injuries didn’t match the impact.

“The detective told me that there are some injuries, the setting is not consistent with a (car) accident),” he said.

“I love him and I miss him.”

Major Crime Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae said investigators were confident the injuries were “the result of an assault”, not the collision.

“Caleb’s death is being treated as suspicious and has been declared a major crime,” he said on Wednesday.

Macrae said detectives do not believe the attack was random, revealing Caleb had driven his 2003 red BMW to the vicinity of Sapphire Reserve for a planned meeting shortly before the crash.

“The reason for that meeting and what occurred there will be part of the investigation,” he said.

Major Crime, Southern District detectives and forensic officers spent hours examining the BMW and surrounding roadway, treating the area as a crime scene.

Two properties have been searched, and several people are assisting police.

Investigators have released an image of Caleb’s BMW and a map of key locations, urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from Sapphire Road between 12.30am and 1.30am to police.