A tragic tale has emerged from a terrible Adelaide Hills crash.
The victim has been identified as Ari Utomo, a man who moved from Indonesia to Australia for a better life for himself and his family.
Now that family is grieving his loss from afar, after the 28-year-old hitched a ride with friends when his car broke down.
That vehicle ran off South Para Road yesterday morning, colliding with a tree.
Three of Utomo's friends are still fighting for their lives.
"He was such a nice guy, he always put a big smile on his face whenever he said hello to everyone," friend Tama Napitupulu told 9News.
Utomo died at the scene, while the driver and two other passengers - all in their early 20 - suffered critical injuries.
Friends shared photos from their bedside at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
"This morning when I found out it was Ari, I couldn't even stand up," Napitupulu said.
Napitupulu worked with all four men at the Thomas Foods abattoir at Lobethal.
She says they were on their way home from night shift and it was only by chance Utomo was in the car.
"His car was broken so the other three guys just picked him up and then they went home together," Napitupulu said.
"We are all deeply saddened by this tragic accident," Thomas Foods International said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with their families and counselling support has been provided."
The state's road toll this year is on track to be the highest in more than a decade.
"We're doing more than we did last year when we had a record low road toll. Sadly we're seeing the fatality statistics going in the wrong direction way too quickly," Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
Utomo's family hope to be able to fly his body home to Indonesia for a proper farewell.
In the meantime, they are praying for their son's friends to survive.
