NT Police confirm multiple people dead in Pine Creek truck crash
NT Police are beginning the grim process of determining how many people died in a horrific Stuart Highway crash south of Pine Creek.
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The identities of multiple people killed in a fiery Stuart Highway crash may not be confirmed for a week, police say.
An unknown number of people were inside a Mitsubishi 4WD travelling north when initial investigations suggest it swerved into the part of a truck headed south about 4.15pm Friday.
All people inside the 4WD were killed in the horrific smash 12km south of Pine Creek.
The two people travelling in the truck with three trailers were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Superintendent Daniel Shean said the age and genders of the people inside the smaller vehicle were unknown, and their formal identification could take days.
The process would involve DNA testing and other investigative measures.
The Major Crash Investigation unit’s initial inquiries had indicated the truck was headed south when the incident occurred.
The truck was carting cars, and two trailers filled with mangoes.
Both vehicles caught fire in the collision.
Superintendent Shean said the truck’s occupants were “quite lucky” to have gotten out of the vehicle.
EARLIER: Multiple people are confirmed to have been killed in a crash involving a Mitsubishi 4WD and a truck.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said the driver and passenger of the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries from the Stuart Hwy crash.
He said multiple people in the 4WD were declared dead at the Pine Creek scene and the recovery process began on Saturday morning.
“This incident has, and will, impact a large number in the community and all efforts are underway to identify and recover the deceased and to notify their next of kin,” Sergeant Lindner said.
“NT Police have activated Disaster Victim Identification forensic processes, so it is anticipated that traffic delays will continue for at least the remainder of the day.”
Sergeant Lindner said anyone with dashcam footage of the area between 2.30pm and 4.45pm Friday should contact police.
“Anyone with any information that can assist the investigation, including the identity and movements of the occupants of the 4WD involved, are also urged to contact police,” he said.
“Please quote reference 10470724.
“We would also continue to urge anyone who witnessed, or who has been impacted by this incident, to please reach out to services such as Lifeline on 13 11 14.”
Saturday, 7am: Police confirm fatal truck crash on highway
The Territory’s road toll is set to rise after police confirmed a horrific crash near Pine Creek was fatal.
NT Police Superintendent Tanya Mace said a truck and a car collided on the Stuart Hwy about 4.15pm Friday.
Superintendent Mace said the Major Crash Investigations unit was travelling to the scene as of 9pm Friday.
She said police, fire and rescue services and St John NT also deployed to the scene 12km south of Pine Creek.
“This is a tragic incident and we have multiple agencies responding. Our thoughts are with everyone involved,” Superintendent Mace said.
“We are urging anyone planning on travelling on the Stuart Highway between Pine Creek and Katherine to reconsider their plans and avoid the area completely as the highway may be shut for some time.
“If you have been impacted by this incident please reach out to services such as Lifeline on 13 11 14.”
She said the Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Logistics co-ordinated road closures in the area on Friday afternoon.
An NT Police spokesman said one lane of the Stuart Hwy had been opened but major traffic delays were still expected.
He said the crash was still under investigation and the victim was yet to be identified.
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Originally published as NT Police confirm multiple people dead in Pine Creek truck crash
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