Prosecutors will explore whether a young man who allegedly caused a crash that killed two Adelaide mothers in April was having a “manic episode” at the time, a court has heard.

Harrison Kitt, 20, today walked into the Adelaide Magistrates Court on crutches to face the allegations for the first time.

He has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and is yet to plead to the allegations.

Senior police officer Joanne Shanahan, 55, and mother Tania McNeill, 53, died in the crash at the intersection of Cross Road and Fullarton Road at Urrbrae on April 25.

Prosecutor Patrick Hill told the court that investigators had already taken 90 witness statements but still had to seek further material.

SA Police Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan was killed in the crash. Photo: ABC News/Simon Royal

He said Major Crash investigators were yet to undertake a “complex scene reconstruction” that would determine the speed Mr Kitt was travelling at before impact.

“We need statements from medical personnel who treated the accused after the crash,” he said.

The prosecutor said investigators also needed to explore Mr Kitt’s mental health and behaviour in the week leading up to the crash.

“We need a formal inquiry into the accused’s mental state at the time if there’s to be a declaration he suffered a manic episode or psychosis,” he said.

David Edwardson QC, for Mr Kitt, told the court that drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

He said reports into his client’s mental competence could not be ordered until he has been committed to a higher court.

The case was adjourned for eight weeks.

-ABC