Northern Territory Police have located and arrested the driver involved in a fatal crash at Palumpa yesterday.
Major Crash detectives and local police continue to investigate the crash which resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy.
The investigation has identified that 10 males were occupants in the 4WD single-cab, tray-back utility when it left the road and crashed into a tree. The majority of occupants, mostly children, were travelling in the tray of the vehicle at the time.
The 10 males, aged between 9 and 27, including the 24-year-old driver were involved in the crash. Police will allege the driver moved the vehicle after the crash and set it alight. The vehicle was destroyed in the fire.
The driver and 7 passengers left the scene prior to police attending. Police located and arrested the driver yesterday evening and a blood sample was obtained for forensic toxicology. He has since been released from custody and will face the following charges:
- Drive motor vehicle causing death
- Destruction of evidence
- Leave scene of accident
- Breach of suspended sentence
He will appear in Darwin Local Court on 8 March 2023.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said, “The driver was issued a Notice to Appear and will face numerous charges.
“We believe he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash so further charges are expected pending forensic toxicological analysis.”
