Special inquiry launched into fiery SA border truck crash

South Australia's Police Commissioner has launched a special inquiry into the death of a truck driver whose rig erupted in flames in a crash on the Victorian border yesterday morning.

Steve Lawrie, 43, was nearing the end of his shift when tragedy struck.

As he was approaching the South Australia and Victoria border in the early hours, the father of three crashed into the back of another queued truck, dying at the scene.

READ MORE: SA border checkpoint to remain closed as fatal truck smash probed

"The South Australian and Victorian government has let him and every trucker in Australia down," friend of 16-years Sally Harris told 9News.

"He definitely didn't deserve to go this way or cop the flak from a preventable accident."

There has been anger along with grief over the fiery tragedy, with calls for better management of the border passages during the pandemic.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says extra resources are tonight being sent to the border to deal with extra traffic due to the closure and he wants rapid answers from his special inquiry into the crash.

"We need those answers and we need to ensure we are taking steps to prevent circumstances like we saw this week," Comm. Stevens said.

READ MORE: Concern SA-Victoria border closure contributed to truck driver death

Mr Lawrie, a former senior member of the Renmark Metropolitan Fire Service, is being remembered as "a good bloke who was good at his job" according to friends.

"He was one of the most amazing people and he was never short on helping people out, whether it be a lending ear or just to always have a great chat," friend Bastian Stone told 9News.