NT coroner finds cause of Pine Creek fireball crash

The driver behind a fireball crash in Pine Creek that killed six people was unlicensed and had been drinking, but these factors were likely not the cause of the tragedy, a coroner has found.

NT Police responded to a horror multiple fatality crash between a road train and four-wheel drive on the Stuart Highway, 12km south of Pine Creek on Friday September 29. Picture: Sierra Haigh

The driver behind the NT’s worst crash in 16 years was unlicensed and had been drinking in the hours before the fireball crash that killed a family of six, the coroner has found.

But coroner Elisabeth Armitage said the crash was more likely caused by a medical episode or mechanical failure of the car.

During a road trip from Lajamanu to Darwin, a Mitsubishi Pajero carrying two adults and their children – aged 9, 5, 4, and 1 – collided with a road train carrying three trailers on September 29, 2023.

In a tragic twist of fate, the family had purchased the Pajero in Katherine only days earlier.

The Pajero exploded on the side of the highway. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Ms Armitage said the driver’s licence was disqualified in 2013 and he had not renewed it since.

She said the man – aged 34 – had 24 driving-related offences including drink-driving and not securing a child properly between 2013 and 2022.

None of the children were believed to be wearing seatbelts when the crash occured.

Ms Armitage said the couple visited Mahogany Bar in Katherine at noon the same day, where they each drank six VB beers and the driver drank another pre-mixed spirit.

She said the family left Katherine in the Pajero about 4pm and were spotted by a witness about 40 minutes later travelling north on the Stuart Hwy, just 12km south of Pine Creek.

Part of the road train tipped in the collision. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Ms Armitage said the oncoming Shaw’s Transport truck passed another road train without incident before disaster struck.

“The witness described the Pajero as being driven appropriately and travelling about the speed limit, which is 130km per hour in that area,” she said.

“Then, without any warning, the Pajero veered across both lanes and into the path of the Shaw’s road train.

“There was only about 30-40 metres of space between the two vehicles.

“The truck driver immediately locked the brakes of the road train but, given the short distance and speeds of the vehicles, a collision was unavoidable.

“The front passenger corner of the Pajero made contact with the passenger side of the road train’s bulbar.”

Ms Armitage said the Pajero was “launched into the air” and exploded on impact on the side of the highway.

She said the youngest child was ejected from the vehicle but their family died in the blazing car.

The truck and its front trailer was burned. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Ms Armitage said the truck and its first trailer jack-knifed in the collision and tipped over.

“A fire ignited from the truck’s gearbox which spread to the rest of the truck after the truck driver and his co-driver managed to get out,” she said.

“The road train had recently re-fueled and it contained in excess of 2000 litres of diesel which engulfed and consumed the truck and first trailer in a large uncontained fire.”

Ms Armitage said witnesses tried to help the occupants of both vehicles, but the intense heat from the fires kept them back.

She said police were unable to determine the exact cause of the crash, but said it was unlikely the driver was intoxicated as the car’s trajectory would have more likely to “drift” instead of veering sharply.

She said police also believed it was unlikely the crash was deliberate.

Originally published as NT coroner finds cause of Pine Creek fireball crash