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The woman accused of causing a horror car accident that killed an aspiring actress and injured her twin sister and boyfriend has been held on mental health grounds.
According to police, Carlie Eileen Richards, 38, was behind the wheel of the car that crashed the red Toyota Prius with Erica Hoy, 26, her twin Lisa and her boyfriend Mark Reader, 29, into the path of a truck Tuesday night. .
Mrs Richards was only five minutes away from home when the horror disaster struck on the Port River Expressway in Gillman in north-west 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 charge of causing death by dangerous driving, three charges of causing damage by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of the accident and two charges of driving without due diligence.
She will also be charged with obstructing police investigations into the crash by allegedly failing to answer questions or provide her name and address.
Young actress Erica Hoy (above) has been identified as the victim of a fatal car accident in Adelaide
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 appear in court in person.
Attorney at law Tyson Leung asked Magistrate Paul Bennett to detain Ms. Richards under section 269x of the Criminal Code.
Mr Leung said the warrant – which will examine the defendant’s mental ability – is likely to prejudge a bail request in two weeks.
Ms Richards was taken into custody a short time after the hearing before returning to hospital, the advertiser reports.
Meanwhile, Erica’s heartbroken father Greg Hoy has paid tribute to his daughter, saying it was comforting to know that she died with her loved ones close by.
Erica was a passionate actress and was driving home from an acting class with her boyfriend and twins when she was murdered (pictured, twins Erica and Lisa)
Carlie Eileen Richards (left) is charged with causing the crash that killed Erica, fleeing the crime scene and obstructing the police investigation
“She was a cheerful, happy, positive young girl,” Mr. Hoy said.
“I’m glad she didn’t die alone.”
Mr Hoy said that Erica had spent the day she died doing what she loved most, acting.
“She was coming back from an acting class…when it happened,” he said.
The proud dad said his daughter was a top student at school, but acting was her passion with Erica starring 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 starring role in the 2020 miniseries Jo-Anne Spirit Guide.
Erica died at the scene as Mr Reader and Lisa were seriously injured and rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (photo, Erica and Lisa in The Reality of Humanity released in 2021)
Erica (above) drove with her boyfriend Mike Reader, 29, and her twin sister Lisa Hoy
It is alleged that Erica’s car was hit by another vehicle just after 9 p.m. Tuesday and pushed in front of a truck on the Port River Expressway (pictured, aftermath of the crash)
Erica, Lisa, their Australian father and Japanese mother migrated to Australia in 2015.
Both twins attended 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 modeling and walked the catwalk for The Boutiques to promote diversity in the fashion industry.