Four children believed to be among family of six killed in horror Pine Creek highway crash
Police believe four children were among the family of six killed in a horrific ‘fireball’ explosion after a head-on collision in a 130km/h zone, in one of the worst crashes in NT history. WARNING: DISTRESSING
Northern Territory
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Four children are suspected to have been among a family of six killed in the Territory’s worst road crash in 16 years, with the remains of those trapped inside the fiery wreck still to be formally identified.
NT Police Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said officers, including the disaster victim identification team were working to confirm the ages, genders and names of six people who were in a 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero when it crashed head on with a road train on Friday.
Sergeant Lindner said it was unclear why the Pajero veered into oncoming traffic along the straight 130km/h section of the Stuart Highway, 12km south of Pine Creek.
“The occupants of the Pajero sadly were killed and we are investigating how and why that crash occurred,” Sergeant Lindner said.
“The crashes occurred in the southbound lane, the road train continued, left the road and it rolled.”
While two men in the road train were able to climb out of the vehicle after suffering non-life threatening injuries, Sergeant Lindner said the family were unable to escape their car as it was consumed by “a large fireball”.
He said it was suspected a fuel tank rupture sparked more than 10,000L of fuel which poured out of the recently refuelled road train.
It took firefighters up to six hours to contain the highway blaze.
“The intensity of the fire, sadly meant that there were little human remains left,” Sergeant Lindner said.
“There was nothing that any person there could do to try and save the people, but they‘re obviously going to be scarred from this.”
The family are understood to be from the Big Rivers region, and the Pajero, registered under the number plate CD56WW, had only been purchased a week ago.
Investigators have confirmed the Pajero was likely a seven-seat model, due to the long wheel base of the wreck.
Sergeant Lindner said there was some indication that alcohol was a factor, but said the investigation was still in its “infancy”.
He said police were still seeking dash cam footage and CCTV of the family and the 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero station wagon, with police talking to the two survivors and the driver of the car behind the Pajero.
“There‘s nothing to suggest the truck driver has done anything wrong. In fact, his actions at this stage seem commendable,” Sergeant Lindner said.
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said those two men, witnesses and first responders would carry “the psychological injury for the rest of their lives”.
Mr Murphy said it would take until at least Thursday to formally identify the victims through DNA evidence, but called upon worried family members to come forward.
“There‘s going to be people out there that haven’t heard from their loved ones,” he said.
“If you haven’t heard from your loved ones, please ring us on 131 444, so we can help.”
Mr Murphy said his officers faced a “confronting” investigation but said all first responders were being supported through this tragedy.
“All our first responders ...put on a brave face,” Mr Murphy said.
“They do an incredibly difficult job in very trying circumstances, but it has to impact them.
“If you‘ve got a family and there’s children involved, that impacts you.”
The tragedy marks the Territory’s worst road disaster in 16 years, and the worst crash involving multiple children in at least three decades.
The Territory had a road toll nearly five times the national average according to the latest Productivity Commission data, with 45 people losing their lives on the road in 2021-22.
This year’s death toll has reached 19, compared to 42 this same time last year.
Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said she took responsibility for the disproportionate rates of fatal crashes, but added there were complications to managing road deaths on the vast network of largely dirt roads.
“I do absolutely take responsibility around the road deaths, it is something that we are working towards zero,” Ms Lawler said.
“We all have a target for zero road deaths by 2050.”
Ms Lawler reminded all Territorians to pay attention to the fatal five, particularly moving into the busy Christmas season.
“Wear a seatbelt, don’t drink and drive, don’t be a distracted driver, don’t speed on our roads, if you’re tired take a break.”
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