Four killed in Howard Springs crash formally identified by NT Police
The four men killed in a fiery high-speed crash at Howard Springs have been formally identified. WARNING DISTRESSING IMAGES.
Northern Territory
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UPDATE 4PM THURS: THE FOUR men killed in a fiery high-speed crash at Howard Springs have been formally identified.
Northern Territory Police confirmed the male driver, aged 32, and three male passengers, aged 27, 30 and 36 were formally identified by forensic DNA analysis on Thursday.
The men were killed in a brutal single-vehicle crash on Hillier Rd, after a 2006 white Holden Commodore V8 Sedan left the road, hit a culvert and burst into flames on Saturday evening February 19.
The four men were still inside the car when the wreck turned into a fiery inferno.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner previously said due to the extensive burns the bodies could only be officially identified from DNA evidence.
“Following formal identification, Major Crash detectives have again spoken to relatives of each of the deceased men,” Sgt. Lindner said.
“The families have requested privacy at this time.”
“We will now complete the coronial investigation on behalf of the NT Coroner, to determine how and why the crash occurred.”
A memorial to the four men appeared before they would be formally identified, with heartbroken loved ones leaving handwritten notes, flowers and booze behind for their fallen friends.
Online tributes have celebrated the beloved “boys”.
“Fly high my friend I hope the beers are ice cold and the smoke is thick,” Cassie Wyles-Kelly wrote on Facebook.
UPDATE 6PM WED: MENTAL health services have been offered to all emergency service workers who raced to the scene of a fiery high-speed quadruple fatal at Howard Springs.
Major Crash Investigation unit Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner confirmed trauma protocols were in place to protect officer wellbeing.
“NTPFES has protocols in place to ensure mental health services are offered to all our frontline members,” Sgt Lindner said.
The counselling has been made available after four men lost their lives after a 2006 white Holden Commodore V8 Sedan left the road, hit a culvert and burst into flames at Hilliar Rd, on Saturday evening February 19.
Sgt Lindner said police were still investigating the quadruple fatal crash in Howard Springs, with formal identification ongoing.
He confirmed inquiries were still underway.
“NT Police are conducting the Coronial investigation on behalf of the NT Coroner,” Sgt Lindner said.
“The formal identification process is ongoing, with involvement and consultation with the NT Coroner’s Office, NT Pathology and NTPFES Forensic Services.”
UPDATE, 7PM, TUES: LOVED ones of four men killed in a fiery high-speed crash at Howard Springs say their mates are now on their next journey down the “highway to heaven”.
An outpouring of grief has hit the Greater Darwin community after four men were killed in a fiery, single-vehicle crash on Hillier Rd, Howard Springs at 6.30pm on Saturday.
NT Police said a 2006 white Holden Commodore V8 Sedan was travelling at a dangerous speed when it left the road and smashed into a driveway culvert before bursting into flames.
Sgt Lindner said the 32-year-old driver and his 27, 30 and 36-year-old passengers died as the fire consumed the vehicle.
The NT News has not received permission from the families to use their names.
A growing memorial has taken over the men’s final resting place, with bouquets adding splashes of colour on the side of the road, interspersed with handwritten messages, and peppered with other mementos.
A friend of one of the fatal crash victims, Maxi Day posted on Facebook saying she drove past moments before the “heartbreaking” crash. “You were a one of a kind boy,” she said. “You will always be in our hearts.
“Sending all our love to the families of all four boys in that car on the highway to heaven.”
A childhood friend of one of the men, Cassie Wyles-Kelly, reminisced on social media over their shared adventures together. Ms Wyles-Kelly said they had been mates for years — starting as little kids exploring the wilds of the Territory, growing into “menace teens sneaking out at night” before blossoming into “rock star” adults. “You were one of my first mates I made when I moved out bush,” she said. “Fly high my friend I hope the beers are ice cold and the smoke is thick.”
Faye Hutchinson said on Facebook she was “shattered” by her loss.
“Our last words on Saturday morning I’ll never forget. I know you loved me too, you told me everyday no matter what … I loved you through it all. I wish so much it wasn’t true.
“Darwin’s like a li’l (little) family and so many are going to be affected by this.”
UPDATE 6PM, MONDAY: THE stench of burnt rubber, pieces of twisted metal and shards of glass embedded into a rural culvert mark the scene of a horrific high-speed fiery crash which claimed the lives of four Territorians.
Four men from the Greater Darwin region were killed in a brutal single-vehicle crash on Hillier Rd, Howard Springs at 6.30pm Saturday.
Major Crash Investigation unit Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said the “horrific” crash had shocked even experienced crash investigators.
“Two of our experienced major crash investigators attended and they described it as one of the worst in terms of the bodies being burnt,” Sgt Lindner said.
“Every road death is a tragedy … especially (this) four hit home particularly hard.”
“We often try to sanitise some information through the media but we can’t really sanitise (this).
“It’s an absolutely horrific crash.”
Sgt Lindner said a 2006 white Holden Commodore V8 Sedan was travelling at a dangerous speed when it left the road and smashed into a driveway culvert.
The four men were still inside the car when the wreck turned into a fiery inferno.
Sgt Lindner said the 32-year-old driver and his 27, 30 and 36-year-old passengers died as the fire consumed the vehicle.
“All on board were killed, extensively burned,” he said.
“Each of those deceased persons are yet to be formally identified (but) we believe that’s who they are and we have spoken to family and next of kin.”
He said due to the extensive burns, the bodies could only be officially identified from DNA evidence.
But he said all men were local to the Greater Darwin area.
Among the witnesses to the crash’s horrific aftermath were family members of those trapped inside.
“Direct relatives of the driver happened upon the crash quite quickly,” Sgt Lindner said. .
“Certainly it would have been absolutely horrific for them to see the car on fire and be absolutely helpless as to what to do.”
Sgt Lindner said neighbours and witnesses could do nothing but watch as the fire consumed the wreck.
“Tragically there was nothing they could do. The fire caught very quickly,” he said.
Sgt Lindner said officers spent hours “dealing with the charred remains of the occupants” and working to recover their bodies from the vehicle.
“That will give you an indication of how badly burnt they were,” he said.
The white paint of the vehicle was stripped away in the blaze, with a husk of the former car left in the centre of the road on Sunday morning as investigations continued.
He said he was limited in what he could say, as a multiple fatality crash was a reportable death requiring a report for the coroner.
The National Road Safety Strategy has found consistently for the past four years that the NT has the highest rate of road fatalities.
NT Police said in 2021 the Territory recorded 35 road fatals, which according to the NRSS made it the highest death rate per 100,000 people — double the rate of the next highest jurisdiction of Western Australia and seven times the fatality rate of Tasmania
Without commenting on the specifics of the investigation, Sgt Lindner said too many lives were being lost because of a simple road safety measures. “If everyone didn’t drink and drive and wore a seatbelt we would probably halve the road toll overnight,” Sgt Lindner said. “Basic things that we still seem to be behind on a national scale.”
Sgt Lindner said there was a particularly “lax” and “blasé” attitude in rural areas.
“A couple of members of the road policing unit were facilitating the crime scene guard,” he said.
“One of them on duty further down the road was conducting road traffic assessment while he was doing crime scene guard and while cars were approaching the crime scene he had the speed gun out.
“Just doing that shift he wrote 17 infringements for speeding and also identified a drink driver.”
The latest crash brings the road tally to eight fatalities this year.
UPDATE: 11AM MONDAY: Tributes have been left at the site where four men lost their lives following a horrific crash on Saturday.
Flowers, beer bottles and a note were placed at the culvert along Hillier Rd, Howard Springs where police say the 2006 white Holden Commodore left the road and crashed.
The note, addressed to one of the victims, read: ‘Thank you my friend for always being my homie’.
‘Love you … Rest easy’, read a message on a bouquet of flowers.
10AM MONDAY: The believed ages and genders of the four lives lost in a single vehicle crash on the weekend have been revealed.
The driver is said to be a 32-year-old male, while the other passengers were male aged 27, 30 and 36.
About 7pm on Saturday night, police attended a scene involving a 2006 white Holden Commodore.
The vehicle left the road at Hillier Rd and crashed before catching fire.
Major Crash Investigation Unit officer in charge Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said the process of formal identification was ongoing.
“Each of those deceased persons are yet to be formally identified, we believe that’s who that is,” he said.
“All four tragically were extensively burned and the process of formal identification is
happening.”
Family members of one or more of the occupants of the car was following behind when the crash occurred.
UPDATE, 12PM SUNDAY: A WELL of grief has opened up as the Darwin community woke to the news that four people had been killed in a horror crash in Howard Springs.
NT Police have confirmed four people were dead following a single-vehicle crash on Hillier Rd at 6.45pm, Saturday.
Authorities are yet to confirm the four people’s ages and genders as Major Crash Investigation Unit work to identify them and the cause of the horror crash.
Messages of heartbreak and collective grief have appeared online, with both strangers and loved ones sending through words of comfort to their families.
“(It’s) such a heartbreaking tragedy to lose four lives. Condolences to family and friends, the grieving will be beyond overwhelming” Gail Dickin wrote.
“Absolutely tragic RIP to the four young people taken way too soon,” Kelly Mumme said.
“Another four young souls taken in a tragic accident to many of our young are dying on our roads,” Debbie Staines said.
Tori Bree said the worst thing after hearing the news, was waiting to see if she would be called with the heartbreaking news.
“(The) worst part is waiting for the names to come out I always hold my breath,” Ms Bree said.
NT PFES said the latest crash brought the road tally to eight fatalities for this year, significantly higher than the same time last year.
The National Road Safety Strategy has found consistently for the past four years that the NT has the highest rate of road fatalities.
NT Police said in 2021 the Territory recorded 35 road fatals, which according to the NRSS made it the highest death rate per 100,000 people — double the rate of the next highest jurisdiction of Western Australia and seven times the fatality rate of Tasmania.
This was noted by many in reaction to the Howard Springs crash.
“For a very small population the NT seems to have a lot of fatalities,” Frank Jones said.
“More Territorians gone too soon,” Thelma Anderson wrote.
UPDATE, 10AM SUN: FOUR people have died following a single vehicle crash in Howard Springs.
Police and emergency services were called to the crash on Hillier Rd on Saturday.
The crash was reported at around 6.45pm.
Major Crash Investigation Unit are at the scene. Investigations this morning continue to identify each person who died.
Hillier Rd remains closed in both directions.
Drivers are urged to travel with caution in the area and obey all instructions given by police officers.
INITIAL: EMERGENCY services were called to a fatal crash overnight, with two lives understood to be lost.
Police were first reported the crash on Hillier Rd, Howard Springs around 6.45pm on Saturday.
The NT News understands the crash resulted in a double fatality, with more information to be released on Sunday.
Originally published as Four killed in Howard Springs crash formally identified by NT Police
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