LIST: Some of Alice Springs’ most horrific driving incidents

Each year, emergency services respond to hundreds of motor vehicle incidents and sadly, many of those occur in the Red Centre. See some of Alice Springs’ most horrific driving incidents.

The Northern Territory is the most dangerous place in Australia to be on the road.

Each year, emergency services respond to hundreds of motor vehicle incidents, and sadly, many of those occur in the Red Centre.

Read the list of some of Alice Springs’ most horrific driving incidents.

Teen frightens supermarket shoppers with car park rampage

IN AUGUST last year, an unlicensed 19-year-old went on an alcohol-fuelled rampage through the streets of Alice Springs, injuring a woman in her 60s and crashing at least three more times.

The destructive rampage was brought to an end when police arrested the vehicle’s two occupants some 5km away from the car park, and after receiving reports of several crashes throughout the CBD.

The woman in her 60s was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, with witnesses reporting she had been pinned between two cars.

Police cordoned off a large part of the Coles car park in Alice Springs after a man went on a destructive rampage.

Dylan Palmer went before the court in February this year and was convicted on a slew charges, including recklessly endangering serious harm, not stopping or assisting after crashing, driving with a high-range blood alcohol content, and driving unlicensed.

Palmer escaped any jail time for his actions, with his nine-month prison term immediately suspended in favour of a 12-month good behaviour bond. He was also handed various fines and disqualified from driving for two years.

Disability support worker fatally struck riding home from work

IN OCTOBER 2020, a group of young Territorians were inside a stolen vehicle when it was driven through a red light and fatally struck disability support worker Shane Powell, before fleeing the scene.

Shane Powell was fatally struck by a stolen vehicle while riding his motorbike.

On the evening of October 15, the 47-year-old had been riding his motorbike home from work when a then-15-year-old driver, accompanied by four others aged between 15-19, sped through the Larapinta Dr intersection and T-boned Powell, throwing him several metres off his bike.

The driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to being behind the wheel when Powell was knocked several metres off his bike and not stopping to provide assistance.

He also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a vehicle causing injury to a person and driving a vehicle causing harm or death.

Raelen Powell, Shane’s mother.

His co-offender, Jacob Long, who was 19 at the time of the crash, was convicted of driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner while being pursued by police, recklessly endangering serious harm, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle causing injury to a person.

Both young men were sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars, suspended after 18 months with several conditions attached.

Justice Judith Kelly appeared choked up when addressing Powell’s family over the “tragic” incident.

“To lose a young man in such senseless circumstances … is the worst thing that can possibly happen to a parent,” she said.

Triple fatal Christmas Day crash

ON CHRISTMAS Day 2019, three Territorians died when a drunk-driver sped up and clipped another car before tumbling into three trees.

The driver and two of the passengers were killed instantly, with the two remaining passengers taken to hospital with injuries.

It was found the driver had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.24 per cent at the time of the crash, almost five times the legal limit.

Moments before the tragic incident, officers had performed a U-turn and started following a silver Mitsubishi Outlander after an automatic number plate reader alerted them the vehicle was not registered.

But when the Outlander sped up and dangerously swerved passed two other vehicles, the two officers pulled over and let the vehicle drive off.

At no time did police use lights or sirens, nor did they give any direction to the driver to stop.

The deaths were subject to a coronial inquest, which ultimately found police did nothing “other than what was expected of them”. The coroner concluded the deaths should not be categorised as deaths in custody, as counsel for the family had suggested.

The coroner also did not consider the moments leading to the tragic accident a “police pursuit”.

In his report, the coroner wrote: “It was an immense tragedy and left their families and community absolutely devastated. The more so because the chain of events commenced over a relatively insignificant regulatory breach – the vehicle being unregistered.”

Methed-up driver fatally strikes cyclist

IN MARCH last year, a man got behind the wheel of his car while high on meth and crashed into a cyclist, killing him almost instantly.

Steve Yates tragically died in a cycling accident in Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied

Fifty-seven-year-old Stephen Yates had been participating in a Saturday-morning cycling club event on a stretch of road at Simpsons Gap, west of Alice Springs, when he was struck by a Ford Falcon that veered suddenly onto the wrong side of the road.

Almost exactly one year later, Michael Birch, 31, was convicted of dangerous driving causing his death and several drug-related charges.

Following the crash, Birch, appearing to be in shock, got out the car and sat on the road 10m from Mr Yates while passer-bys – and later paramedics – performed CPR to no avail, the court heard.

Police conducted a roadside drug test at the scene and Birch returned a positive result for methamphetamine.

When police arrived at the scene, Birch went to relieve himself behind a nearby tree, but when officers inspected the area they discovered he had disposed of 11g of methamphetamine, the court heard.

Police arrested Birch and a search of his vehicle turned up more than $2000 cash, dime bags and a small set of scales, which Birch told officers were for weighing opals. He later conceded this was false.

Justice Judith Kelly handed down a head sentence of five-and-a-half years, with a non-parole period of two years and nine months, to the 31-year-old.

Justice Kelly described Birch’s offending as “reckless”, but noted the 30-year-old had not been speeding at the time of the crash.

“You’ve pleaded guilty and I do accept that you are remorseful,” she said.

“You need to be made of stone not to be remorseful, given the consequences.”

The court heard Birch has been diagnosed with severe substance abuse disorder, and he believes he’s been a drug addict since he was eight years old.

Several offences committed by Birch relating to the theft of a Holden ute prior to the crash were also included in his sentence.

Birch’s Ford ute was forfeited and the 30-year-old was ordered to pay $10,000 in compensation to the owner of the stolen vehicle within 12 months of his release from prison.

Spectator killed at Finke Desert Race

IN JUNE last year, amateur photographer Nigel Harris, who extended his holiday to be trackside at the Finke Desert Race, was tragically killed when a vehicle accidentally veered off the track while competing in the race.

Harris, who was in his 60s and had recently retired, died on impact when he was struck by the vehicle about 9.35am on Monday.

Another spectator in his 50s and a woman in her 50s, the navigator of the vehicle, sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

On the day of the crash, the Canberran had been photographing race vehicles as they travelled over the crest of a hill about 35km from the finish line.

Harris’ heartbroken daughter Melina said her father had been on “the trip of a lifetime”.

“He is such a loved husband to Sheryl, father to Melina and Mark, and poppy to his granddaughter Evelyn,” she said at the time.

“He died at the end of a trip of a lifetime travelling around Australia after retiring just last year.”

Harris had shared dozens of the photos he took of competitors in action during a pre-run at the Finke track to Facebook. Instead of asking for payment, he wrote a post encouraging people who liked his photos to consider making a donation to a fundraiser for Beyond Blue.

NT Police, NT WorkSafe, and Motorsport Australia are carrying out separate investigations into the incident.

Originally published as LIST: Some of Alice Springs’ most horrific driving incidents