Two Australian soldiers understood discharged while three Timorese remain stable at RDH

Three Timorese soldiers remain in stable condition at Royal Darwin Hospital, as investigations continue on Bushmaster rollover.

Three Timorese soldiers injured in a Bushmaster rollover outside Darwin remain in hospital, with Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles visiting them bedside on Friday.

The Defence vehicle carrying eight soldiers rolled near the intersection of Howard Springs and Whitewood roads in Howard Springs after 8.30pm Wednesday.

A spokeswoman from the Timor-Leste Consul-General said five of the personnel on board were part of the Timorese military, and were among the seven taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Two of the five were discharged late on Thursday.

Another three were listed as being in a stable condition in hospital late Friday afternoon.

“I am told they are not badly injured, and I have been told that overall, they will be OK,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Chief Minister (Natasha Fyles) visited them today (Friday) and they will ultimately recover after specialist medical treatment is concluded.”

It is understood two Australian Defence personnel were also discharged on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a Comcare spokesman said an inquiry into the cause of the crash was ongoing.

“Defence notified Comcare of the Bushmaster rollover and our inquiry is ongoing. We can’t comment further at this time,” he said.

Comcare is the national work health and safety authority.

Condition update for soldiers involved in Bushmaster crash

Three Timorese soldiers are in hospital in a stable condition following a vehicle rollover in Howard Springs while two of their comrades and two Australian soldiers are understood to have been discharged.

It is understood a Bushmaster carrying eight people rolled near the intersection of Howard Springs and Whitewood roads in Howard Springs after 8.30pm Wednesday.

It is understood two of the personnel who were in the Australian Army Protected Mobility Vehicle at the time were initially in the intensive care unit at Royal Darwin Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Timor-Leste Consul-General confirmed five of the country’s defence force personal had been among seven people taken to Royal Darwin Hospital on Wednesday.

The spokeswoman said two of the Timorese soldiers had since been discharged and three remained in hospital.

“I am told they are not badly injured and I have been told that overall, they will be OK,” she said.

A spokesman for St John Ambulance earlier confirmed two of the injured soldiers were “in a serious but stable condition” while one had suffered “moderate injuries”.

He said the other four personnel taken to hospital after the crash had suffered only “minor injuries”.

A Defence spokesman said the “chief concern is for the safety and wellbeing of our soldiers”.

“Several soldiers were injured and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment,” he said.

“Eight soldiers were involved, all received medical assistance and some were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment with non-life threatening injuries.”

A spokeswoman for the East Timorese Consul-General in Darwin earlier confirmed Timorese troops were also in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

“The Second Secretary, Immigration Attache, and Protocol Officer from this office attended RDH this morning to confirm their status and wellbeing,” she said.

A St Johns NT spokeswoman said six crews were sent to the scene including two intensive care paramedics.

“The crews transported seven patients to hospital, two in a serious but stable condition, one with moderate injuries and four with minor injuries,” she said.

It is understood RDH was placed on standby for its second Code Brown since Sunday, but it was not enacted.

The scene of a defence vehicle crash in Howard Springs on Wednesday. Picture: Zizi Averill

Skid marks could still be seen in the area on Thursday morning about 200m from the Howard Springs North Defence Establishment where the vehicle appeared to have veered off the road.

Tyre tracks appear to show the heavy vehicle swerved slightly into the right hand lane, before curving off onto the side of the road on the left hand side.

Shattered glass and engine oil remained at the scene, as well as what appeared to be a large patch of blood in the dry grass.

Multiple tracks from what appear to be other defence vehicles were also visible.

The intersection is also not far from to Robertson Barracks.

The crash was about 200m from the Hoard Springs North Defence Establishment. Picture: Zizi Averill

An NT Police spokeswoman said officers had been notified of the single vehicle crash just before 9pm.

“Police and St John Ambulance attended. Paramedics have stated that seven people were taken to hospital,” she said.

“The matter is under investigation by (the) Department of Defence and police will assist with inquiries where required.”

It follows a horror week for the defence community in the NT with a US Marines Osprey aircraft crashing on Melville Island on Sunday.

Three US Marines died as a result of their injuries with their bodies returned to Darwin late on Tuesday.

Troops began arriving in Darwin last Wednesday for the Territory’s largest Australian-led military exercise, dubbed the ‘Predators Run’.

The exercise involves about 2500 soldiers and is taking place in Darwin Harbour and around the Tiwi Islands.

The number includes roughly 500 US marines, 120 soldiers from the Philippines Armed Forces, 120 from the Indonesian Defence Force and about 50 from the Timor-Leste Defence Force.