Palmerston crash: Candles, flowers left at site where child died in Moulden tragedy

The owner of a supermarket where an 11-year-old boy was tragically killed on Tuesday afternoon has told of the frantic efforts to save the boy.

Police are investigating after a child was involved in a fatal crash in a Palmerston carpark on Moulden Terrace, on Tuesday December 20.

The owner of the Moulden supermarket where an 11-year-old boy was killed on Tuesday has told of the frantic efforts to save him after he was pinned against a wall by a car in a “horrific incident”.

Helen Harvey, who owns the Moulden Supermarket, told the NT News after the boy was hit by a ute on Tuesday afternoon, staff and customers tried desperately to help him before emergency services arrived.

Ms Harvey said a regular customer ran into the shop after witnessing the incident before using the shop’s defibrillator to try and save the boy.

“It’s just horrific,” she said.

“A horrific tragedy.”

Ms Harvey said staff members, who returned to work on Wednesday morning, also tried to help save the boy until the ambulance arrived.

“We’re shell-shocked,” she said.

Flowers have been left at the scene where an 11-year-old boy was tragically killed in the carpark of the Moulden Supermarket.

Ms Harvey spoke to staff after the incident, which she described as “distressing”.

“They’re pretty wide-eyed,” she said.

The shop reopened on Wednesday morning after being closed on Tuesday while police investigated the boy’s death.

Police called for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them, particularly two female youths who were captured on CCTV arriving shortly before and the incident and who saw it unfold.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said the boy’s death was being treated as a “tragic accident”.

“It’s shocking,” Sergeant Lindner said.

“It’s not something we want to be dealing with.”

The boy, who travelled with his family from interstate to visit relatives, died when he was hit by a Dodge Ram ute about 12.45pm in the car park of the Moulden Supermarket bottle shop.

Police are investigating after a child was involved in a fatal crash in a Palmerston carpark on Moulden Terrace, on Tuesday December 20.

Sergeant Lindner said the 54-year-old driver of the ute was attempting to reverse out of a car park when his car “lurched forward” rather than reversing.

His car jumped the kerb, hitting the boy who was walking in front of the car and pinning him against the wall of the bottle shop, which has been closed for the day while Major Crash investigated.

Sergeant Lindner said paramedics were unable to save the boy.

“Tragically there was nothing they could do,” he said.

Sergeant Lindner said the boy’s family were present at the time of the incident.

“It’s been a horrific incident for them to witness,” he said.

Shortly after police arrived on scene, the driver tested positive to drugs and was arrested.

He has since been released from custody without charge pending the outcome of his blood test.

“It’s a horrific incident, it’s a horrific death ... toward the end of the year five days out from Christmas,” Sergeant Lindner said.

“It’s obviously horrendous dealing with the family of a deceased child.”

Police would not confirm what substance the driver tested positive to.

“He has done what he’s been asked to do at the present time,” he said.

Police will continue to review CCTV footage of the incident that captured the incident.

Several people in the carpark were believed to have witnessed the incident.

“There were a number of people in the car park,” Sergeant Lindner said.

He urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident, which will be subject to a criminal investigation and a Coronial inquest, to contact police.

The growing memorial outside the Moulden Supermarket where a boy, 11, was struck and killed by a car in the carpark on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. Picture: Riley Walter

He urged people to “take care on the road”.

“Please take care anywhere you are,” he said.

“Take your time.

“Just please take care on the road and everywhere else.”

Police were continuing to speak with the boy’s family.

“You can only imagine how Christmas is going to be for this poor family with the loss of their son and brother,” Sergeant Lindner said.

“It’s unimaginable.”

Major Crash investigators had left the scene by 4.30pm, with a scooter and push bike remaining in the cordoned off area at the front of the shop.

The boy’s death will be added to the Territory’s road toll which now sits at 51, the worst since 2008 which had 75 deaths on the road.

“It’s been a terrible year,” Sergeant Lindner said.

“The message today is please take care on the road.

“If you’ve been drinking or doing drugs, stay off the road.”

Police urged anyone who witnessed the event and had not yet spoken with them to make contact on 131444, quoting reference number 10208138.