Dangerous driving possible factor in fatal, three-vehicle crash, police say

DETECTIVES are investigating eyewitness reports that a Toyota Kluger may have been “engaged in dangerous driving” before it was involved in a horrific three-vehicle crash in Livingstone that claimed the life of its 75-year-old driver

Eleftheria “Rita” Skliros, 75, tragically died in a three-car crash on the Stuart Highway in Livingstone on Saturday

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DETECTIVES are investigating eyewitness reports that a Toyota Kluger may have been “engaged in dangerous driving” before it was involved in a horrific three-vehicle crash in Livingstone that claimed the life of its 75-year-old driver.

Three vehicles were involved in a crash on the Stuart Hwy in Livingston at 8.45pm on Saturday, which tragically killed 75-year-old Eleftheria “Rita” Skliros.

Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner from Major Crash Investigations said Mrs Skliros, who was driving a silver Toyota Kluger, appeared to have been travelling in the wrong lane.

“She was travelling southbound in the northbound lane about a kilometre south of the Cox Peninsula Rd turn-off,” he said.

“That vehicle collided head on into a grey Kia Carnival being driven by a 41-year-old male in the northbound lane.

“A witness travelling behind the Kia Carnival stopped and shortly thereafter a northbound white Toyota Landcruiser, being driven by a 53-year-old man, collided into the Kluger, which was in the northbound lane.”

Mrs Skliros tragically died at the scene and the two other male drivers were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Detective Lindner said police are investigating a number of reports which said that the Kluger may have been being driven dangerously prior to the crash.

“We’ve spoken to some witnesses this morning, some of whom have described as having seen a vehicle travelling in the wrong lane for a number of kilometres prior to that collision ... having occurred.

“Some of the driving that’s been described to us by witnesses include instances of excessive speed, swerving between lanes, travelling for extended periods in the oncoming lane, travelling through (a) red light intersection and bumping into guardrails.

“We’re not ruling out any reason why this crash has occurred.”

Police said they are seeking assistance from anyone who may have seen the Kluger being driven in an erratic manner prior to the crash.

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Anyone who was in the area at the time is urged to contact NT Police on 131 444.

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