A promising young international student has died in a devastating car crash near Yankalilla on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula.
The fatal single-vehicle accident occurred around 3:45am on Saturday 12 July on Parawa Road at Torrens Vale. The Mazda sedan veered off the road, reportedly while trying to avoid a kangaroo — a common hazard in the area.
Syed Prottoy, a 20-year-old international student from Bangladesh, was seated in the back, died at the scene. He had moved to Adelaide to pursue his dreams of a better future.
Community leader Mahbub Siraz Tuhin told 9News Prottoy was “very talented, very generous, very nice and kind-hearted. Everyone loved this boy.” He described the tragedy as “a dream ended before it even began”.
Two other international students — the 21-year-old driver and a 21-year-old front-seat passenger from Torrensville — were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and are said to be traumatised.
Crash investigators spent much of the day examining the scene, with Parawa Road closed in both directions between Range Road and Torrens Vale Road. It is understood that crash detection technology on a smartphone alerted emergency services to the accident.
The Royal Automobile Association has since reminded motorists not to swerve for wildlife, with senior road safety manager Charles Mountain urging drivers to “brake as firmly as possible” instead.
Prottoy’s death marks the 42nd life lost on South Australian roads in 2025. The Bangladeshi community in Adelaide is rallying to support his grieving family, who are waiting to farewell their son for the final time.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
