A 16-year-old boy has died after an allegedly stolen vehicle rolled on a major highway in the Northern Territory, following a rampage through a town. Police say the car was stolen during a break-in at a property on Zimin Drive in Katherine, about 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin, at 10.30pm on Monday.
Sequence of Events
Police allege the occupants of the stolen car drove to Charles Darwin University, where they abandoned the vehicle and stole two more cars. The group then drove erratically through Katherine's central business district on Monday evening, taunting police and throwing objects, including a hammer, at patrol cars. A police spokesman said officers did not initiate a pursuit due to the dangerous driving.
Fatal Crash
Around 6am on Tuesday, one of the alleged stolen vehicles rolled on the Stuart Highway, just north of Katherine. Emergency services attended the scene and transported three 14-year-olds to hospital. The 16-year-old male suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later located two more girls near the crash site and believe additional individuals may have been inside the car.
Police Statement
NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve described the incident as both tragic and complex. “We are investigating a significant series of offences, as well as the death of a 16-year-old male following extremely dangerous driving behaviour that placed the lives of the community at risk,” he said. He noted that the police car targeted by the group was parked while officers attended another incident. “The offending vehicle was driving past and threw objects out the window,” Grieve said. He added that such behaviour is a concerning trend, particularly among youth, and requires a whole-of-community response involving education, health, and parental responsibility.
The Stuart Highway was closed while police investigated the fatal crash. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.
