Police leave Chilean tourist at remote roadhouse after rollover

Locals say they spent hours trying to keep the man awake after police told the traveller they were leaving him at a roadhouse to await an ambulance that never came.

A Chilean tourist who rolled his car while driving across the Nullarbor was “dumped” at a nearby remote roadhouse by SA Police who transported him from the scene of the crash.

On Thursday last week, Rodolfo Mendez was driving about 3 kilometres outside the Yalata Aboriginal community when his car left the road and rolled multiple times, leaving him with a large gash to his forearm, neck and back pain, and a severe concussion.

On Tuesday, the Chilean tourist who struggles to speak English, told the Advertiser that he was dropped off by two police officers who attended the crash and was told to wait for an ambulance that did not come.

Mr Mendez's was driving across the Nullarbor when he crashed his car 3 kms outside of Yalata Aboriginal community on January 4, 2024.

“They left me in Yalata at the station (roadhouse) while I wait there because they (police) told me that someone (ambulance) going to pick me up but no one come (came),” he said.

“The people helped me. The police no help. Not really, no. I stayed with the people of Yalata and they helped me.

“When I speak with the woman at the petrol station, when I ask her if someone gonna pick me up, she told me that the police say I refused twice that the ambulance don’t come, but I didn’t do that.”

Yalata resident Emma Palmer, whose husband manages the roadhouse, said she drove to the crash site before the police arrived to help Mr Mendez.

She said he was “badly” injured and looked like he was in shock.

Chilean tourist Rodolfo Mendez five days after he crashed his car near Yalata Aboriginal community while driving across the Nullarbor.

Chilean tourist Rodolpho Mendez after receiving medical treatment.

“It was pretty gnarly. The guy’s car was pretty bad. If he had a passenger they’d be dead because one side was flat. He’s very, very lucky,” she said.

“We found him sitting in the bush in complete shock. He had a massive gash to his arm that was bleeding really bad. He was really dizzy so we weren’t sure if he had head injuries.

“Not long after that they’ve (police) gone out there, they’ve actually dropped the guy off at the front of the roadhouse in the sun and just left him.

“We had to keep him from falling asleep all afternoon. Our staff were constantly having to try and wake him up because we weren’t sure what was going on inside of him.”

Yalata Anangu Community Roadhouse.

Mr Palmer said when she and staff at the roadhouse realised that an ambulance was not coming, they had to call the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) who arrived about 9 hours after the accident.

In a statement, SA Police said the officers “followed all procedures” in relation to the accident and that they were unaware the RFDS were called.

They said Mr Mendez was treated at the scene by a “medic from Yalata”.

However, Ms Palmer said the medic was not local and that he was “just a man travelling by” who stopped to help.

“He just wrapped up the guys arm and none of us even knew if he was qualified,” she said.

SA Police said Mr Mendez refused further medical help after he was treated, which Mr Mendez denies.

“The driver stated he did not want further medical treatment, however police requested SAAS attend at the scene,” SA Police said.

“The driver later contacted SAAS and cancelled their attendance.

“Police transported the driver, having been with him for several hours to the roadhouse for him to make the necessary onward arrangements.”

In a statement, a spokesperson from SAAS said they received a notification from SA Police of the vehicle rollover and that they were looking to engage the RFDS, however, cancelled after liaising with SA Police who said Mr Mendez did not need further medical help.