Police are pleading with motorists to take care while driving on the roads this holiday period following a Christmas Day horror crash, which killed three people and injured two others in the Northern Territory.
A 32-year-old woman and two men, aged 27 and 35, were killed in the two-vehicle crash, which happened just before 8pm on Christmas Day in the Alice Springs suburb of Sadadeen on Spearwood Road.
Assistant Commissioner of Regional Operations and Road Policing, Narelle Beer, said one of the vehicles had attempted to evade police and “drove away at speed and later crashed”.
“Police were using the automated number plate recognition unit and it alerted there was an unregistered vehicle,” Assistant Commissioner Beer said.
Assistant Commissioner Narelle Beer says the crash happened after one of the vehicles tried to evade police. Source: SBS News
“Police attempted to intercept that vehicle, that vehicle sped off, police did not pursue that vehicle … however, the crash occurred some moments later.
Northern Territory Police said the two people who were injured in the crash were taken to Alice Springs hospital.
“Of those two one has since been released and the other is a woman who remains in the intensive care unit but is in a stable condition.”
“There was one person in the other vehicle, and they had shock and went to hospital for minor treatment and have been released.”
An investigation is underway.
Assistant Commissioner Beer said it was too early to say if drugs and alcohol were involved in the incident and that a report was being prepared by the coroner.
Police have yet to identify the victims as they have been unable to notify all of the next of kin.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased and all of those impacted by the road toll.”
NT police have used the incident to remind motorists to be careful on the roads during the holiday period.
“Maybe as a New Year’s resolution we can all look after ourselves and our families by saying don’t speed, don’t get in the car with someone that appears to be affected, let’s look at putting your mobile phones in your centre console,” she said.
The 2019 Northern Territory road toll now stands at 35.
