A Mount Gambier man accused of killing two of his children in a three-car crash involving an emu has been granted bail despite police concerns that his mobile phone was taken from the scene and has not been found since.

Warning: This story contains graphic imagery that readers may find disturbing.

The judge pointed out that the defendant could not interfere with the police investigation by hiding the phone, as he remained in custody until late in the afternoon.

Callum Thorne, 22, is charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing harm by dangerous driving.

A black sedan collided with an emu on Sunday and the driver was unharmed, police said.

They said a Toyota station wagon traveling behind the sedan braked to avoid the crash and then Mr Thorne’s white Nissan ute crashed into the back of the Toyota.

5-year-old Isaac Eylenburg, who was a passenger in the station wagon, died at the scene.

Issac’s sister, 15-year-old Keziah Eylenburg, The man, who was also in the car, was taken to hospital in Adelaide with serious injuries but died on Monday night.

The children’s parents, Chris and Paula Eylenburg, and their two other children, ages 6 and 13, were also injured.

Alarming phone hiding

Police told Adelaide Magistrates’ Court that Mr Thorne’s phone was heard ringing at the scene of the crash and a nurse then handed the phone to Mr Thorne’s mother or girlfriend.

It was later detected heading south towards Mount Gambier at 4.30pm and was closed at 4.46pm on Sunday.

Police did not find it when they searched the house where Mr Thorne lived with his family, including his father, who is the sheriff of Mount Gambier Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor said a “ping signal” was given at the Thorne family home at 12pm today before Mr Thorne’s father visited him in custody, but the message was not given after that.

A search was found on Mr Thorne’s brother’s tablet computer containing the term “GoDark bag”, a reference to a bag into which a phone could be placed to hide its signals from police.

The prosecutor requested that Mr. Thorne be detained for six months, but Judge Benjamin Sale granted him bail until next May, considering he did not know Mr. Thorne’s past and that the charges might be dropped.

Magistrate Sale said: “I am disturbed by the alleged interference with the police investigation into the discovery of the defendant’s mobile phone, but there is no interference which may or may not have occurred while Mr Thorne was in custody.”

Mr Thorne will appear in court again in May.