NT crime news: Police investigation into crumpled semi-trailer on Stuart Hwy

Police allege that the driver of a road train that lost a semi-trailer south of Darwin overnight subsequently stole a vehicle to flee the scene.

Read the latest in Northern Territory Top End crime. Picture: Katie Hall

April 19: Police allege that the driver of a road train that lost a semi-trailer south of Darwin overnight subsequently stole a vehicle to flee the scene.

Emergency services received a report at 8.23pm Thursday regarding a crumpled semi-trailer that was partially blocking the Stuart Highway at Acacia Hills.

Police allege that the truck veered to the wrong side of the road, before the driver attempted to return to the correct lane causing the last trailer to flip and roll several times.

The male road train driver, who was carrying four trailers prior to losing the last, allegedly continued to drive to Noonamah, leaving the trailer partially blocking the highway.

The 35-year-old driver was medically assessed by emergency services.

An abandoned trailer at Acacia Hills on April 18, 2024, has prompted a police investigation after the driver allegedly drove 10km further before stopping. Picture: Facebook/ The Mango Inquirer

As this was happening, the supervisor of the road train company attended Noonamah to collect the road train before driving it back to the Acacia Hills site, where the supervisor cleared the highway of the trailer prior to police arrival.

The road train driver allegedly stole a vehicle to flee the scene.

Batchelor Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

Northern Territory Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2400038861.

Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Crumpled semi-trailer on highway south of Darwin of police interest

April 19: A crumpled semi-trailer that became detached from a truck and partially blocked traffic on the Stuart Highway on Thursday night south of Darwin is now the subject of a police investigation.

NT Police Senior Sergeant Justin Bentley said emergency services received a report at 8.23pm on Thursday about the orphaned trailer “on the middle of the road” at Acacia Hills.

“Police attended, the trailer had broken off,” he said.

“The truck stopped about 10km later.

“It looked like it got into the wrong lane and tried to overcorrect, it’s rolled and broken off.”

Snr Sgt Bentley urged those who saw the accident or have any other information to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers NT on 1800 333 000.

“We’re keen to see the manner of driving,” he said.

According to a witness report published on social media, there was “stuff all over the road and the trailer is stopping people from safely crossing”.

The witness suggested the semi-trailer was part of a road train.

Police taser man after dramatic highway chase

April 18: Northern Territory Police tasered and arrested man who allegedly raced down Stuart Highway in a stolen car on Tuesday afternoon.

The Dog Operations Unit, Strike Force Trident and Darwin Traffic Operations raced after the vehicle after noticing it driving erratically on the Stuart Highway near Knuckey Lagoon about 1pm.

Trident successfully deployed a tyre deflation device along the Arnhem Highway a short time later, forcing the alleged offender to pull into an unrelated home in Humpty Doo.

The driver allegedly failed to follow police directions and police deployed a taser prior to making the arrest.

The alleged offender will face court on a later date.

Detective Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said the dangerous driving could have easily resulted in injury.

“The driving we saw on Tuesday was incredibly dangerous and could have easily resulted in injuries or death,” he said.

“Once again the quick actions and collaboration of Dog Operations Unit, Strike Force Trident and Darwin Traffic Operations, has resulted in the safe arrest of a serious offender.”

Police urge anyone who witnesses a crime to make contact on 131 444 and in an emergency contact 000.

21y.o. smashed in head with hammer during CBD servo carjacking

April 18: A group of youths are believed to be behind two violent carjackings in Darwin City, one involving threats with knives, the other a strike to the head of a driver with a hammer.

NT Police Senior Sergeant Justin Bentley said the first report was made at 6.40pm Wednesday.

A woman was parked on Harvey St while she picked flowers from a vacant block, when she was approached by a group of four youths, two of which were armed with knives.

One of the armed youths said if she didn’t give him the keys, he would “stab her”.

The woman fled with her keys, meaning the youths were unable to steal the vehicle.

A second attempted carjacking involving three youths, which Snr Sgt Bentley said NT Police believe is related to the first, occurred at Shell Coles Express on Daly St at 10.31pm.

A 21-year-old man was refuelling his vehicle when he was approached and struck in the head with a hammer.

The youths were again unable to steal the vehicle, but rifled through it and stole various items, Snr Sgt Bentley said.

The 21-year-old man was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Strike Force Trident officers were handed the case at approximately midnight, and Snr Sgt Bentley said he expected arrests would be “imminent”.

If anyone witnessed the two attempted carjackings or have any further information, they should contact police on 131 444 or make a report to Crime Stoppers NT on 1800 333 000.

In an unrelated matter, two youths were identified by CCTV operators using a star picket to smash a window and gain access to a vehicle parked at DoubleTree Hilton on the Esplanade at 12.52am Thursday.

They attempted unsuccessfully to hot wire the vehicle, but were arrested during their attempt, Snr Sgt Bentley said.

Man arrested after alleged sexual assault on stranger in Darwin CBD

April 17: Northern Territory Police have arrested a man in relation to an alleged sexual assault on a stranger in Darwin city.

At 2.30am on Wednesday, CCTV operators identified the 34-year-old allegedly assaulting a woman on Cavenagh St.

Officers located the man a short time later and he remains in custody.

Detectives from Sex Crimes are continuing to investigate the incident and at this stage it is believed the alleged offender was not known to the victim.

Police are anyone who witnessed, or who has dashcam footage of the alleged assault to come forward and call 131 444, quoting reference number P24104672.

Terrifying aggravated robbery alleged in Katherine

April 17: Investigators are calling for information after an incident in Katherine involving four males allegedly breaking into a woman’s home overnight.

At 12.20am Wednesday police received reports the group illegally entered a home on Mannion St.

It is alleged the males threatened the female occupant with a walking stick and a screw driver, before stealing money and alcohol and fleeing toward O’Shea Terrace.

One of the alleged offenders is described as a male with a dark complexion, stocky build, curly hair, black shorts and wearing no shoes with a T-shirt wrapped around his head.

The second offender is described as having a slim build, tan complexion with a red shirt wrapped around his face.

Detectives are urging anyone with information to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference P24104575.

Man who allegedly exposed self in Top End suburb still at large

April 17: A man who allegedly indecently exposed himself in Palmerston is still at large, with police putting the call out for information from the community.

Police in a statement said the alleged incident occurred on Emery Ave at 7.20am on Wednesday, April 17.

The alleged offender is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, and aged in his early to mid-30s.

The man was said to have had black hair and a beard, and was wearing thongs, and dark coloured knee-length shorts.

He had a white T-shirt over his shoulder.

Police said the alleged offender fled the scene before they arrived.

It is believed the man walked down Harrison Cct towards Sibbald Cres, onto the footpath leading behind the Palmerston fire station.

Anyone with information, dashcam footage, or CCTV is urged to contact the police on 131 444 and to quote reference 24103684.

Cyclist hurt in suspected quadbike hit and run

Police are looking for a quadbike rider they believe drove off after hitting a cyclist in Coolalinga early Monday morning.

Police said about 5.45am, the 34-year-old female cyclist was allegedly struck from behind by a quadbike on the Stuart Highway service road in Coolalinga.

Police allege the quadbike rider did not provide aid or contact emergency services and rode off in the company of another quadbike rider.

The woman was taken to Palmerston Regional Hospital with extensive bruising and leg injuries.

Detectives are urging anyone with information to make contact on 131444, particularly if there is dashcam footage.

Or get in touch with Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 with reference number 2400037539.