Nurse ‘did what she could’ for Palmerston man struck by car

Police have recovered footage of the moment a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in the latest tragedy on NT roads. Read what officers believe happened.

A motorist’s dashcam captured the moment a man was struck and killed in the latest pedestrian incident on Northern Territory roads.

Police believe the 59-year-old male pedestrian was attempting to cross the Stuart Highway’s inbound lanes near Yarrawonga Rd about 6pm on Wednesday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said dashcam footage recovered from a witness’s vehicle appeared to show the man trying to “negotiate” crossing the dual lanes.

An off-duty nurse who happened across the scene “did what she could” to save the man’s life, but he was declared dead at 6.15pm.

Sergeant Lindner said the man’s daughter attended the scene and identified him.

Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner speaks at a press conference about pedestrian fatal in Palmerston overnight. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The family were very upset obviously, as anyone would be,” Sergeant Lindner said.

Police believe the man likely lived in one of the Yarrawonga bush camps.

Sergeant Lindner said the tragedy was a reminder to motorists to be wary of their surroundings.

“Be aware of your surroundings, drive to the conditions, expect the unexpected, and take care on the road.”

The man’s death marks the 11th pedestrian struck and killed on NT roads in 2022.

Yarrawonga Rd at Palmerston where a male pedestrian, 59, was struck by a vehicle and died about 6pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Sergeant Lindner said NT Police would be investigating all circumstances to work out how the crash occurred, including the pedestrian’s alcohol use and potential vision impairment.

“There was a number of vehicles in the immediate area when the crash occurred, so we will be looking at the scene in a forensic way to see whether there was any opportunity for the driver to avoid the crash,” he said.

“The area is well lit, it is used by a lot of pedestrians in the area, there is a pedestrian crossing only 400m down the road.”

Police are appealing to anyone who was with the deceased prior to the crash or has some knowledge of his movements to come forward.

Witnesses are urged to call police on 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The incident occurred on the inbound lanes of the Stuart Highway near Yarrawonga Rd. Picture: Sierra Haigh

The inbound lanes of the Stuart Highway were closed but have since reopened.

The man’s death takes the Northern Territory’s road toll to 46 for 2022, passing last year’s total of 35.

It is less than two weeks since a female pedestrian was struck and killed in a horrific incident in Holtze on October 28, when police say the woman was struck on Thorngate Rd by two vehicles.

Sergeant Lindner said that scene was “particularly confronting” for emergency services who recovered the woman from underneath a large vehicle.

Insurance company AAMI this week revealed the worst places for traffic crashes in the NT, with the Stuart Highway taking four of the top five crash hot spots.

Originally published as Nurse ‘did what she could’ for Palmerston man struck by car