South Eastern Freeway crash: Motorcyclist dead, highway closed

A motorcyclist is dead and a major South Australian highway remains closed after a three-vehicle crash on Thursday.

Police said two cars and a motorcycle collided about 5pm on the South Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Bridgewater, roughly 20 minutes out of Adelaide.

The 53-year-old motorcyclist, from Highbury, died at the scene and both drivers were taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Police said a Toyota four-wheel drive heading east crashed into a Subaru station wagon and Kawasaki motorcycle heading in the opposite direction.

Debris from the crash was spread across both carriageways, forcing authorities to close the highway to traffic between Stirling and Bridgewater while major crash unit officers investigated the scene.

The 53-year-old is the ninth motorcyclist to die on SA roads this year and the 39th fatality overall.