Central Desert Regional Council provides support to Lajamanu community after horror Pine Creek crash

Up to 400 people could be headed to the remote community of Lajamanu to gather and grieve a family of six, including four sisters, involved in the horrific Pine Creek crash.

A Lajamanu family including four young sisters are believed to be the victims in a horror highway crash, which reduced their newly purchased 4WD to a flaming ‘fireball’.

It is understood the remote community of 600 people has begun sorry business for a Central Desert Regional Council worker, his wife and his four children, believed to be involved in the Pine Creek crash on Friday.

The NT News has chosen not to name the deceased without the consent of their family for cultural reasons.

Central Desert Regional Council chief executive Leslie Manda said it was believed a Lajamanu Ranger was involved in the crash, but until the formal identification process was complete he could not confirm this.

It is understood the Lajamanu community has begun sorry business for a Central Desert Regional Council worker, his wife and his four children believed to be involved in the Pine Creek crash on Friday. Picture SUPPLIED

“It is difficult because it hasn’t come to us in black and white,” Mr Manda said.

Police said the Lajamanu family were travelling in their 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero when it veered into the path of a three-trailer road train on the Stuart Highway at 4.15pm Friday.

The family car hit the Shaw’s Darwin Transport road train head on, with the multi-trailer vehicle rolling to the side of the highway before catching alight.

NT Police have confirmed six people were killed after a 4WD and road train crashed on the Stuart Highway, south of Pine Creek on Friday September 29.

Police said the recently refuelled road train spilt thousands of litres of fuel onto the road, which resulted in a ‘fireball’ explosion which continued to burn for up to six hours.

Due to the severity of the fire, the Disaster Victim Identification unit has been called in to collect DNA evidence, dental records, tattoos, scars and fingerprints to formally identify the bodies.

Mr Manda said until this identification was complete, it was difficult to confirm the Lajamanu council worker’s death, but said “we know sorry business and family gathering (is occurring)”.

He said up to 400 people could be heading to the Sorry Camp at Lajamanu, with the council to provide additional facilities including drinking water, road grading and waste facilities to manage the effective doubling of the remote community’s population.

“We are providing the necessary support to the community and those known to us as they go through the aftermath of this ordeal,” Mr Manda said.

NT Police Superintendent Paul Faustmann said local police were “providing support” in the community of 600 people on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert, 560km from Katherine.

In a joint statement, Territory Families, Housing and Communities and NT Health said they were providing “relevant support and assistance to the community and families involved”.

The two men survived the horror crash, a 45-years-old Shaw’s Darwin Transport driver and his 58-year-old co-driver who was asleep in the cabin at the time of the crash.

A NT Health spokesman said on Tuesday the two men were initially taken to Katherine District Hospital, with the 45-year-old man then taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.

NT Police responded to a horror multiple fatality crash between a road train and four-wheel drive on the Stuart Highway, 12km south of Pine Creek on Friday September 29. Picture: Sierra Haigh

His 58-year-old colleague was discharged from Katherine Hospital.

Shaw’s Darwin Transport managing director Allan Thornley said the two men were driving from Darwin to Perth when they were involved in the “particularly destructive and tragic” crash.

“It is expected their physical injuries will heal over time and we are arranging support counselling for them and their families,” Mr Thornley said.

Four children from Lajamanu are believed to be involved in the horrific Pine Creek crash on Friday. PICTURE: Supplied

“This is a deeply traumatic event, particularly for those involved and their immediate workplace colleagues.”

Mr Thornley thanked everyone who reached out with their concerns about the two men.

“We appreciate your kind and supportive words — thank you,” he said.

“Shaw’s continues to be a family business where the safety of our employees is of utmost importance to all who work with Shaw’s.”

Originally published as Central Desert Regional Council provides support to Lajamanu community after horror Pine Creek crash