Every sibling's worst nightmare: Cop who arrived first at the scene of a crash that killed two mothers - including a decorated officer - was the SISTER of man who was badly injured in the pile-up
- Joanne Shanahan was one of two women who died after a crash in Adelaide
- High-ranking officer died at scene after high-speed crash involving three cars
- Tania McNeill, 53, was also killed in the collision at an intersection in Urrbrae
- Driver of ute involved in crash Harrison Kitt, 20, is in serious condition in hospital
- His sister, who is also a police officer, was called to scene moments after crash
The police officer sister of Harrison Kitt, 20, was the first to be called to the scene of a fatal crash in Adelaide on Saturday which left her brother with life-threatening injuries (Mr Kitt pictured)
A police officer who was first to be called to the scene of a car crash which killed two mothers was the sister of one of those involved in the collision.
South Australia Police Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan, 55, was killed in the crash in southern Adelaide on Saturday after the car she was a passenger in was hit by a ute being driven by 20-year-old Harrison Kitt.
The driver of a third car, mother-of-one Tania McNeill, 53, also died at the scene after being involved in the crash at a suburban intersection in Urrbrae.
Mr Kitt suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and is in a serious condition in hospital.
His sister - who is also a police officer - arrived on the scene of the horrific crash just moments later .
High-ranking police officer Joanne Shanahan (left) was one of two women killed in the horrific car crash. Her husband Peter Shanahan (right) survived the collision
Witnesses said a Volkswagen four-wheel drive flew into the air before hitting a streetlight
Police are investigating whether the 20-year-old suffered a medical episode before his car collided with the vehicles being driven by Ms Shanahan and Ms McNeill, 9News reported.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene to both women while Ms McNeill's husband has shared a public tribute to his wife.
He released a photo of the couple holding their son when he was born - adding 'that's her holding her world'.
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South Australia police commissioner Grant Stevens on Sunday meanwhile choked back tears as he revealed chief-supt Shanahan had been a passenger in a Holden SUV driven by her husband Peter - a former detective - who survived the crash.
Mr Shanahan, who now holds a senior leadership role as the general counsel for SA Police, was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor injuries and later discharged.
'Not only have we lost a beautiful person, we've lost an officer with a wealth of knowledge,' commissioner Stevens told reporters.
Ms McNeill's husband shared a public tribute to his wife - while sharing a picture of the pair with their son when he was a baby
Chief-Supt Shanahan, a veteran of more than three decades with South Australia Police, received a police medal last year as part of the Australia Day Honours
'Sadly the real tragedy of road fatalities has been brought home to South Australia police yesterday when we lost one of our finest senior police officers.'
Chief-Supt Shanahan joined SA Police in 1981 and she received an Australian Police Medal last year as part of the Australia Day Honours.
She was only the third woman in the history of the state's police force to rise to the rank of chief superintendent.
'Coming from quite a strict Greek background and going into the police force as a female was quite significant for my family,' she told The Adelaide Advertiser in January 2019 about her Australia Day award.
'They were totally shocked that their daughter wanted to be a police officer. But when I was accepted they were proud as punch.'
Witnesses had told the ABC a Volkswagen four-wheel drive flew into the air before hitting a streetlight.
Ms Shanahan (pictured) was described as a 'beautiful person' and a 'detective with a wealth of knowledge' by SA Police commissioner Grant Stevens on Sunday
Another witness told 9News he saw one of the cars speed through the suburban intersection without its brake lights on seconds before the collision.
Pictures taken after the collision showed wreckage and debris strewn across the road and a car on its side.
South Australia Police Superintendent Craig Wall said it was a 'horrific scene and tragic for everyone involved'.
'The scene is … tragic for not only the families but for the emergency services attending here today.'
Scene of the crash pictured. Chief-supt Shanahan died at the scene along with another woman
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