'Gorgeous smile and contagious laugh': Tributes to drivers killed in horror head-on crash

Tributes are being paid to two drivers who died in a horror head-on crash in South Australia.

Emergency services were called to Lincoln Highway in Whyalla, four hours north-west of Adelaide yesterday where a Hilux ute and a Rav 4 had collided head-on.

Both drivers Travis Terry, 35, from Whyalla Stuart and Whyalla woman Kimberly Pursche, 37, died at the scene.

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Despite the force of the impact, a 27-year-old passenger in the ute survived.

Terry's sister posted an emotional tribute to her brother online, remembering his "gorgeous smile and contagious laugh."

Friends of Kimberly Pursche described her as a "ray of sunshine" who "brought so much into people's lives".

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The social worker and community advocate worked hard to better the lives around her across the Eyre Peninsula.

Of the horrifying 26 people killed on South Australia's roads this year, 19 have died on country roads.

Police say they're doing all they can with their road safety messages but drivers need to take responsibility too.

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SA Police Acting Superintendent Damien Eichner says the deaths will be felt by an entire community.

"These numbers are more than numbers, these are loved ones, they are family members, these are friends, these are children," Eichner, said.