Woman accused of killing actress, 26, in Adelaide car crash detained for mental health reasons

The woman accused of causing a horror car crash that killed an aspiring actress and injured her twin sister and boyfriend has been detained for mental health reasons. 

Police allege Carlie Eileen Richards, 38, was behind the wheel of the car that bumped the red Toyota Prius carrying Erica Hoy, 26, her twin Lisa and her boyfriend Mark Reader, 29, into the path of a truck just after 9pm on Tuesday night. 

Ms Richards had been just five minutes from home when the horror smash unfolded on the Port River Expressway in Gillman in northwest Adelaide. 

Erica sadly died of her injuries at the scene while her twin sister and boyfriend were rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. 

Ms Richards has been charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing harm by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of the accident and two counts of driving without due care.

She will also face charges for hindering police investigations into the crash by allegedly not answering questions or providing her name and address. 

Young actress Erica Hoy (above) has been identified as the victim of a fatal Adelaide car crash

Carlie Eileen Richards, 38, has been charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing harm by dangerous driving 

She remained silent during a bedside hearing at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday after she was deemed mentally unfit to front court in person. 

Duty solicitor Tyson Leung asked Magistrate Paul Bennett for Ms Richards to be detained under section 269x of the criminal law act. 

Mr Leung said the order – which will see investigations into the defendant’s mental competence – would likely pre-empt an application for bail in two weeks time. 

Ms Richards was taken into custody for a short time after the hearing before returning to hospital, The Advertiser reports. 

Meanwhile, Erica’s heartbroken dad Greg Hoy has paid tribute to his daughter, saying it brought him comfort to know she died with her loved ones nearby. 

Erica was a passionate actress and was driving home from an acting course with her boyfriend and twin when she was killed (pictured, twins Erica and Lisa)

Carlie Eileen Richards (left) is accused of causing the crash that killed Erica, fleeing the scene and hindering the police investigation

‘She was a bright, happy, positive young girl,’ Mr Hoy said.

‘I’m glad she didn’t pass away alone.’

Mr Hoy said Erica had spent the day she died doing what she loved most, acting.

‘She was coming back from an acting course … when it happened,’ he said. 

The proud father said his daughter was a top student in school but acting was her passion with Erica starring as the lead in her school musical, Alice in Wonderland. 

She also appeared on the screens of the Adelaide Film Festival in a web series called The Reality of Humanity in 2021, and had a leading role in the 2020 mini series Jo-Anne Spirit Guide.

Erica died at the scene while Mr Reader and Lisa were seriously injured and rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (pictured, Erica and Lisa in The Reality of Humanity released in 2021)

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Erica (above) was driving with her boyfriend Mike Reader, 29, and her twin sister Lisa Hoy

It is alleged Erica’s car was struck by another vehicle and pushed in front of a truck on the Port River Expressway just after 9pm on Tuesday (pictured, the aftermath of the crash)

Erica, Lisa, their Australian father and Japanese mother migrated to Australia in 2015.

Both twins studied at Flinders University in Bedford Park, where Erica completed her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Chinese and French.

The all-rounder also tried her hand at modelling and walked the runway for The Boutiques to promote diversity in the fashion industry.