Territory leaders share tributes after family of six killed in horror Pine Creek disaster, NT’s worst crash in 16 years

A remote Territory community has been plunged into grief, mourning six lives lost in the Territory’s worst fatal car crash in 16 years. See the tributes to the Big Rivers family.

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.

A desert community has been plunged into mourning in the wake of the Territory’s worst fatal crash in 16 years, after it is believed four children and their parents were trapped in a ‘fireball’ explosion on the Stuart Highway.

While formal identification has not been completed, the family of six involved in the horror Pine Creek crash is understood to be from the Northern and Southern Tanami Desert mob.

Police believe the Big Rivers region family were travelling along 130km/h zone of the highway in their recently purchased 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero when it veered into the path of a three-trailer road train on Friday.

Attorney General and Gwoja representative Chansey Paech shared his grief over the loss of six lives from his electorate. Picture: Annabel Bowles

The six people were trapped in the car as it turned into a ‘fireball’ with more than 10,000L of fuel ignited, with the six hour blaze meaning little of their human remains were able to be recovered.

Attorney General and Gwoja representative Chansey Paech shared his grief over the loss of six lives from his electorate.

“Some very sad news with the loss of six lives in a single incident on our roads — heartbreaking,” Mr Paech said.

NT Attorney General and Gwoja representative Chansey Paech shared this image in the wake of the horrific Pine Creek crash.

“Northern and Southern Tanami Desert mob please let me know if you need help. We’ll be supporting family and sorry camp.

“My sincere condolences to all the families and friends across the Territory and my thanks to our first responders— make sure you take care of yourselves.”

In a joint statement from Territory Families, Housing and Communities and NT Health, the departments confirmed they were “working with NT Police and other agencies to provide relevant support and assistance to the community and families involved”.

In the wake of the Territory’s worst single crash in 16 years, Territory leaders have voiced their sympathies for the loved ones, witnesses, and first responders to the Pine Creek disaster.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the entire community was “in shock” following the Stuart Highway crash. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the entire community was “in shock” following the Stuart Highway crash.

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the six Territorians killed, and everyone impacted. It is a devastating and tragic loss,” Ms Fyles said.

“Thank you as always to our first responders who do such difficult work.”

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro echoed these views, sharing her condolences to the family and friends of those killed in the crash.

“We are all shocked and saddened by the horrible accident that happened on our roads,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro echoed these views, sharing her condolences to the family and friends of those killed in the crash. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The crash, just 12km from Pine Creek occurred in Dheran Young’s electorate who also shared his condolences to the family, and thanks to the Pine Creek first responders who “do an amazing and tough job each and every day”.

Dheran Young’s electorate who also shared his condolences to the family, and thanks to the Pine Creek first responders who “do an amazing and tough job each and every day”. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

In neighbouring Katherine, the local member Jo Hersey called it an “absolutely tragic day”.

“My heart goes out to the families of these six people,” Ms Hersey said. She said her heart went out to “all of the first responders, the people first on the scene and also the truck driver and passenger that were taken to hospital”.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy thanked all those who assisted at the scene while warning that the survivors, witnesses and first responders would carry “the psychological injury for the rest of their lives”.

Federal Solomon MP Luke Gosling said the crash would take a “big toll on everyone involved”, and called for the Territory to learn from the horror crash.

“Obviously my heart goes out to the family and also the truck drivers themselves and the first responders,” Mr Gosling said.

“It's a tragedy and we’ve just got to learn from it.”

Originally published as Territory leaders share tributes after family of six killed in horror Pine Creek disaster, NT’s worst crash in 16 years