Four men aged in their 20s and 30s are believed to have been killed in a tragic road incident in Howard Springs on Saturday night, NT Police have revealed.
About 6:45pm on Saturday night, NT Police attended the scene of a single vehicle car crash involving a 2006 white Holden Commodore sedan on Hillier Road, about 30 kilometres south of Darwin.
The driver is said to be a 32-year-old man, while the passengers are believed to be three men aged 27, 30 and 36.
Brendan Lindner, officer in charge of the Major Crash Investigation Unit, said the deceased were yet to be formally identified "but we believe that's who they are, and we've spoken to next of kin".
"The vehicle had three other occupants, so four on board," he said.
"That vehicle left the road and crashed into a culvert, caught fire and all on board were killed, extensively burned."
Senior Sergeant Lindner said the car was travelling "at speed" and said a group of people — including family members of the driver — heard the crash on Saturday night and came to assist.
"My understandings were that direct relatives of the driver happened upon the crash quite quickly," he said.
"The circumstances of how that occurred, I'm not particularly sure, but certainly it would've been absolutely horrific for them to see the car on fire and being completely helpless as to what [they] could do."
He said it was too early to tell if alcohol was involved, however, he said that would form part of the police investigation.
"Take care on the roads, drive to the conditions," Senior Sergeant Lindner said.
"The crash that occurred at Howard Springs was on a wet road. If it's pouring with rain, modify your driving accordingly."
Hillier Road was closed in both directions until midday yesterday while crash investigators examined the scene.
Howard Springs resident Chloe said the crash was confronting for the whole community.
"The way that it affects everyone is just, really brutal," she said.
"I think it wrecks a small community like this."
The tragedy is the largest loss of life in a Northern Territory motor vehicle accident since five people were killed in a car crash west of Jabiru in 2019.
