NT Police are investigating a crash on the Stuart Highway, 20km north of Pine Creek

A person has died and three more have been injured in a horror crash near Pine Creek. Read the latest.

A fatal crash has occurred on the Stuart Highway near Pine Creek. Picture: Glenn Campbell

May 27: A person has died and three more have been injured in a “head-on crash” on the Stuart Hwy.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner confirmed the NT’s road toll has climbed to 23 after a horror crash 20km north of Pine Creek just after 4pm Sunday.

Sergeant Lindner police believed a Blue Landcruiser carrying a 16-year-old girl, 19-year-old man, and an unknown male collided with a beige Landcruiser carrying a 57-year-old man and 50-year-old woman.

He said the 19-year-old was declared dead at the scene when emergency services arrived.

“Both the 16 and 57-year-old drivers tested negative for alcohol and bloods were obtained to determine the presence of any drugs,” Sergeant Lindner said.

“At this early stage of the investigation, Major Crash detectives have an understanding of how and why this head-on crash occurred but are appealing for witnesses familiar with the occupants of the southbound Landcruiser to provide statements.”

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said one person suffered arm and shoulder injuries and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by CareFlight.

He said two more people were taken to Katherine District Hospital “by road” for treatment.

St John NT Territory Response Manager Craig Garraway said two off-duty paramedics came across the scene and called triple-zero.

He said the paramedics found one person deceased at the scene, and one of the injured people was in a “deteriorating” critical condition.

Mr Garraway said the Pine Creek Health Clinic assisted at the scene.

The Stuart Hwy has been reopened for traffic.

Police Minister Brent Potter said the main culprit behind this year’s tragic road toll was drivers and pedestrians doing the fatal five: speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue or distraction.

“We (as a government) do everything we can, people are behind the wheel - they need to be complying with the legislation and not speeding,” he said.

“We’ve seen a spike in drug driving and I’ve put it out there to Territorians - just stop doing it.

“We also see a lot of these fatalities related to pedestrians and will continue to work with the federal government on roads funding and awareness campaigns, we obviously have the goal of ‘Towards Zero’ and we don’t want to see a single fatality.”

Crash investigators warn of highway delays

Initial, May 26: Territory crash investigators are responding to a major incident on the Stuart Highway.

NT Police confirmed that emergency services were responding to reports of a crash on the highway 20km north of Pine Creek just after 4pm, Sunday.

Motorists were warned to expect delays, however it was unclear if the crash was impacting both lanes of traffic.

“Please exercise caution and delay any unnecessary travel while response and investigations are being carried out,” a police spokesman said.

More to come.

Originally published as NT Police are investigating a crash on the Stuart Highway, 20km north of Pine Creek