Fatal Girraween buggy accident: Vehicle rolled, driver thrown, NT Police confirm

NT Police say they are still trying to piece together the final hours of a young buggy driver who was discovered deceased near a rural Darwin road over the weekend.

NT Police Assistant Commissioner Michael White speaking about the death of a 26-year-old male buggy driver at Girraween, September 2, 2024. Picture: Alex Treacy

Update, Monday 12.30pm: Northern Territory Police say a young man who died in a single-vehicle accident involving a buggy was ejected from the vehicle after it rolled in rural Darwin.

On Sunday, police revealed they had located a 26-year-old man deceased near Girraween Rd after receiving a report about the accident from a member of the public about 7.20am.

Initial investigations suggested alcohol and a lack of seatbelt were both factors in the death, police said.

On Monday morning, Assistant Commissioner Michael White said police were still trying to piece together the buggy driver’s final hours.

He said the fatal accident, in which the buggy rolled and ejected the driver, could have occurred anytime from midnight onwards.

Commissioner White said speed was also considered to be a factor.

“This sadly takes the road toll to 46 now for this year, compared to 31 [in the whole of] last year,” he said.

“It’s another tragic event that could have been avoided if people would take responsibility for themselves.

“I feel for the family of the deceased, it’s very tragic.”

Commissioner White said it was not possible to register for use on public roads the sort of buggy being driven by the deceased man.

“They can’t be registered unless they’re specifically used on lands where you can use them, like cattle stations.

“They’re not supposed to be driven in public places.”

Grog blamed after young man found dead in buggy smash

Initial, Sunday 3pm: A buggy driver has been found dead after what police believe to have been a fatal crash in the Top End overnight.

Police said that around 7.20am they received reports a buggy had been located in Girraween and that a 26-year-old male driver had been found dead at the scene.

Police said early investigations indicated the driver was intoxicated and not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred in the semi-rural area outside of Darwin.

The most recently reported buggy death occurred in September 2022 when an East Arnhem man died and another was seriously injured after a rollover.

In successive years from 2017 two Territorians were killed when their buggies rolled-over, one at Nhulunbuy and the other at Daly River.

The death toll on Northern Territory roads this year is at 46, compared to just nine this time last year and 31 for all of 2023.

Originally published as Fatal Girraween buggy accident: Vehicle rolled, driver thrown, NT Police confirm