A woman's body has been located after the discovery of a human leg on a Northern Territory highway earlier this week, with police arresting two people over the presumed hit and run incident.
A major search began on Tuesday after the leg was found near the Stuart Highway, between Virginia Rd and Morgan Road, on the outskirts of Darwin.
Police believe it had been left there in the previous 24 hours, likely in a hit and run road incident on Monday evening.
At a press conference this morning, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said police had identified a "suspect vehicle", which was at a home in the nearby area of Palmerston early yesterday afternoon.
"Investigators attended the residence and, after speaking to the 23-year-old male occupant, he was arrested," he said.
"Further inquiries were made and, as a result of those inquiries, police later attended an address in Winnellie where they arrested a 50-year-old female in relation to this incident."
"They also seized another vehicle."
Body 'partially concealed'
Senior Sergeant Morrissey said police then attended another location where they found the body, which he said had been "partially concealed" and was in a condition "consistent with being struck with a vehicle".
"At 11:45pm last night, police attended a location in Jenkins Road, Virginia, where they located a deceased Aboriginal female," he said.
"We believe this is the victim of the collision.
"It will be alleged that the 23-year-old male was the driver involved in the collision impacting the victim.
"It will be further alleged that the 50-year-old female has assisted him in removing the deceased to another location, in an attempt to conceal the crime."
Senior Sergeant Morrissey said the body had been discovered "a number of kilometres away" but "within [the same] area" as the presumed hit and run.
Police have not yet publicly identified the woman, but Senior Sergeant Morrissey said they believe they know who the woman is and have been in contact with her family.
"We believe we have identified the victim, but further forensic testing is being conducted before we make that final confirmation," he said.
"We have been in touch with the believed victim's family."
An autopsy will be conducted today.
Public's help 'instrumental' in arrests
The man and woman are in police custody but have not yet been charged.
Senior Sergeant Morrissey said police expected to charge the pair later today with "offences in relation to driving causing death and attempting to pervert the course of justice".
He could not say if they were related.
Police allege the man was the driver in the incident, and the woman helped him move the body to another location.
Authorities also believe speed was a factor in the incident.
Police have not yet provided a description of the vehicle involved, saying they were still conducting forensic testing.
Senior Sergeant Morrissey described the pair's alleged actions as "terrible", and said it was particularly concerning there had been several hit and run incidents in the Northern Territory in recent months.
He thanked the public for their help with the investigation, saying the information provided had been "instrumental" to the pair's arrest.
Police enquiries are continuing.
