Fatal crash fugitive, serving a five-year licence disqualification, evaded police with assistance

Christian Mpongo, accused of being behind the wheel of a fatal Darwin crash, was serving a five-year licence disqualification.

Christian Isendjola-ndjamba Mpongo has been charged with a range of offences related to the alleged fatal hit-and-run in Durack on May 16, 2025. Picture: Facebook

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A man allegedly changed his appearance and received assistance from Darwin’s Congolese community to hide from police after he allegedly crashed his car into another, killing a man on Friday afternoon while serving a five-year licence disqualification for drink driving and driving while disqualified.

Christian Mpongo was said to be the driver of a Dodge that swerved into a car carrying three people before he was allegedly driven away from the crash scene by his partner, Tilathia Gore, and drastically changed his appearance, spending more than 24 hours on the run.

A 33-year-old man died in the head-on crash, which occurred in Palmerston; two other male passengers aged 80 and 35 were taken to hospital.

Mr Mpongo is now facing seven driving-related charges, including driving while disqualified.

Mr Mpongo was serving a five-year licence suspension.

It can be revealed that in January 2023, he had his licence cancelled for five years after pleading guilty to high range drink driving and driving while disqualified, and in February 2021 his licence was suspended for 12 months.

In a statement, a police spokesman said police were continuing to investigate how Mr Mpongo allegedly fled the scene.

“At this stage, only the 38-year-old driver who fled the scene has been arrested,” a police spokesman said. “How he fled the scene and his subsequent evasion of police forms part of the investi­gation with the co-operation of some members of the public.”

Mr Mpongo faced court on Monday charged with seven offences including hit and run driving causing death and serious harm, careless driving resulting in death and serious harm, and driving a vehicle while disqualified.

The NT News reported six friends and family were in court to support him.

He was remanded in custody by judge Giles O’Brien-Hartcher to reappear in court on July 16.