Chase ends in CBD crash
AN allegedly drunk, speeding, and unlicensed driver ran a red light in the CBD and collided with a van on Knuckey St before crashing again into a concrete pillar.
Onlookers say they saw the 4WD turn right through a red light and hit a van, before slamming into a pillar in front of Salvatore’s cafe.
Remarkably nobody was injured during the outrageous display.
AN allegedly drunk, speeding, and unlicensed driver ran a red light in the CBD and collided with a van on Knuckey St before crashing again into a concrete pillar.
A police spokesman said the driver of the Nissan Pathfinder was clocked at 103km/h in a 50km/h zone at the Larrakeyah end of Knuckey St, travelling towards the city on Friday at 9.10pm. A police officer on a motorbike turned after the speeding driver, who was by that point nearing the Knuckey St traffic lights.
Onlookers saw the fourwheel-drive turn right through a red light and hit a van, before trying to drive off from the crash but slam into a pillar in front of Salvatore’s cafe.
The driver narrowly missed hitting Friday night revellers.
The driver, who tried to flee on foot, was arrested within minutes and taken to Darwin Watchhouse, just over a block away from the crash scene.
A police spokesman said there were no injuries reported, but the car and the pillar were damaged.
The driver blew 0.131, more than double the legal limit.
The driver was released yesterday morning and issued with a notice to appear in Darwin Local Court charged with driving unlicensed, running a red light and dangerous driving.
The charges carry a mandatory licence disqualification, an almost certain fine and a potential jail sentence.
The Nissan’s registration was also due to expire just three hours after the crash. An onlooker told the NT
News the van, a Mitsubishi, appeared to belong to an overseas backpacker and that the crash also left a parked motorbike damaged.
“I think he just overturned and went smack into the pole,” she said.
“He was speeding and it looked like police were chasing him.
“It’s lucky no-one was hurt, just the pole.”
Smith St was blocked off for just under an hour as emergency services cleared the crash scene of debris and the wrecked Nissan.
The crash was the most serious of three reported overnight in Darwin, with the other two on Osgood Dr near Darwin Airport and Kalymnos Dr, Karama.