Woman killed in crash on Sandover Highway, near Arlparra community
A passer-by to a fatal remote rollover has told of his ‘desperate’ attempts to seek help from emergency services.
Northern Territory
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A passer-by has told of his “desperate” attempts to seek emergency help after coming across a fatal crash on one of the Territory’s most remote roads.
Nathan Hart was one of the first to encounter the tragic scene on the Sandover Highway on Saturday afternoon.
He found the driver, a 27-year-old woman, dead at wheel.
“We tried desperately to contact emergency services but with no phone reception and no response on the UHF repeater stations, there was nothing more we could do,” he said.
“The driver was unfortunately already deceased when we arrived and there was no sign of a passenger.
“We raced to the next town to alert emergency services of the accident”.
NT Police received reports of a single-vehicle rollover on the remote unsealed highway, 112km south of Arlparra community, about 4.40pm on Saturday.
Emergency services later arrived and declared the driver, a British woman, dead at the scene.
The vehicle’s only other passenger, who was also a British national, was taken to Arlparra clinic with non-life-threatening injuries.
NT Police said another passer-by took the passenger to get medical help and report the crash once they were in mobile range.
“The passenger of the vehicle involved in the crash on Sandover Highway was transported to the Arlparra clinic by a member of the public,” a spokeswoman said.
“The location of the crash site is out of reception and the member of the public was required to reach service in order to report the crash to emergency services.”
Major Crash detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, which occurred about 40km north of the Plenty Highway.
NT Worksafe has launched an inquiry into the incident.
“Information at hand indicates the vehicle involved was a work vehicle and both occupants were on a work related journey,” an NT WorkSafe spokesman said.
Police said a report would be prepared for the Coroner.
The Territory’s road toll has reached six, compared to 25 this time last year.
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Originally published as Woman killed in crash on Sandover Highway, near Arlparra community
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