‘So many things could have gone wrong’: Travellers walk away from car smash with minor injuries
A couple are lucky to walk away from a freak accident with scratches and bruises after their car towing a caravan rolled down an embankment.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A COUPLE are lucky to walk away from a freak accident with scratches and bruises after their car towing a caravan rolled down an embankment north of Elliott.
On March 26 travellers Jenni and Dave, who preferred not to give their surnames, lost control while driving out of Elliott when their car hit a dip in the road and unhinged their caravan.
“We were heading north and it took seven seconds from the time the caravan unhinged to crossing over the other side of the road, rolling the caravan and car and ending up facing south,” said Jenni.
MORE TOP NEWS
‘Darwin’s out of control’: Youths brazen booze raid caught on CCTV
Police seal off parts of CBD after man climbs on building roof
NTG forced to hand back $40k to rape survivor after violent attack
Seconds after the caravan unhinged, Dave, a former paramedic, harnessed his driving skills to try regain control.
“Survival mode kicked in,” he said. “The van was starting to swerve so I knew it was going to roll. I didn’t want it to roll on the highway so I controlled it as best I could and we went down the embankment.
“When we stopped my immediate concern was Jenni and she appeared to be OK which was the biggest relief.
“It was very surreal. It happened in seconds.”
Their car was crushed and their caravan decimated. The couple managed to crawl out from the wreckage when people in another caravan stopped and assisted them.
Jenni took the brunt of the accident and was taken to Elliott for observation.
Both were cleared and are now staying in Daly Waters while arranging their next plans, thanking the local community for their support.
The couple said they did their due diligence before hitting the road to ensure the vehicles were safe. The couple urged travellers to be careful when driving on remote roads, particularly north of Elliott.
HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1
“To get out of that with just bruising and no severe injuries, if it were a motorcyclist they’d be dead,” Jenni said. “To come out of it how we have, so many things could have gone wrong.”
The stretch of road is understood to be notorious among locals.
In January four people were lucky to survive after a Toyota 4WD lost control and rolled several times down a 5m embankment.
They were trapped in the wreckage and later flown to Alice Springs Hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.
Mental health flags for woman who allegedly stabbed three people on bus
A young woman who allegedly stabbed three people with scissors amid a mental health crisis could be locked up in the hospital, rather than a prison cell, amid urgent local court battle.
Serious fire which threatened Alice Springs suburb ‘under investigation’
Authorities say a grass fire which threatened residents and homes in an Alice Springs suburb is now ‘under investigation’. Read the latest.