A woman and a man have been killed in a two-car crash on the Lincoln Highway on South Australia's upper Eyre Peninsula.
Police were called to the scene at Lincoln Gap, near the intersection with the Eyre Highway, at about 7:30am.
A 37-year-old woman from Whyalla and a 35-year-old man from Whyalla Stuart both died at the scene.
The woman was driving a Toyota RAV4 and the man was driving a Toyota Hilux, police said.
A 27-year-old man from Whyalla Stuart, who was a passenger in the Hilux and a colleague of the driver, was taken to Whyalla Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
"The severity of the crash — it is extraordinary that we have had one person who has not died as a result of the collision," SA Police's Damien Eichner said.
"We are thankful that we have not lost that life, but they have suffered serious injuries and they will have a life-changing effect."
The deaths of both drivers take the number of lives lost on South Australia's roads this year to 26 — significantly more than the 12 road deaths at the same time last year.
Nineteen of the 26 deaths have occurred on country roads, and officers from SA Police's Major Crash division are investigating the circumstances of the collision.
The crash site is not far from the scene of a major fire that broke out in huge tanks filled with tyres early last Thursday.
The blaze is continuing and sending up smoke, and the Country Fire Service has advised motorists to close vehicle windows and air vents when driving in the area.
But police said it was too early to determine what factors contributed to the crash.
"We keep emphasising that we cannot tolerate the risks people take on the road; this is significantly contributing to lives being lost and serious injuries which change people's lives," Inspector Eichner said.
"Every collision is preventable. It's about the behaviours of the drivers on the road.
"If people drive with consideration, abide by the road rules and protect themselves and protect other road users by their behaviours, we can help reduce the impacts of road collisions."
The Lincoln Highway is closed and traffic is being diverted through Iron Knob.
