Police have hailed the "brave" man who intervened in the alleged stabbing of two children on a motorway, north-west of Adelaide, as the mother accused of the crime is charged with attempted murder.
WARNING: This story contains content that some readers may find upsetting.
It is alleged Megan Jayne Somerville, 35, stabbed her sons, aged three and eight, after stopping her car on the North-South Motorway at Wingfield late last night.
The boys remain in hospital.
Ms Somerville appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court from her hospital bed on Tuesday afternoon, charged with two counts of attempted murder.
The court heard her mental health would be a factor in the case, which was adjourned until December.
Before the court appearance, SA Police said the Modbury Heights woman stopped her car and removed the two children before attacking them.
They said a man was able to disarm her, and other members of the public helped detain her before calling police.
Superintendent Selena Dinning praised the strangers who stopped and called authorities, including the man who intervened soon after the incident.
“We are extremely grateful to the people that stopped and rendered assistance, intervening in this incident, as no doubt the situation would have been much worse had they not stopped," Superintendent Dinning said.
“If this man hadn't stopped, I'm sure the situation would have been much worse.
"We're very grateful that he stopped, we're also very grateful [to] the two other members of the public that assisted him.”
Superintendent Dinning said the woman was driving the family car.
"We don't know what triggered the episode, we don't know at this point in time where she was going or what she was doing," she said.
"From my personal perspective, the expressway incident is the first that I became aware of this particular family.
"But all of that history will be brought forward before the court to consider."
The two children were taken to the Women's and Children's Hospital in a critical condition.
Superintendent Dinning said one child had undergone surgery, and the other was about to have surgery following the incident.
Both children are in a stable condition.
Ms Somerville is in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
She was briefly reported missing four years ago.
Neighbours said police attended the house where she had been living on Sunday.
"I feel sorry for the children and the family and I hope they get better — it's devastating," neighbour Charlie Camilleri said.
