Two die in awful Alice car smash

SEATBELTS are believed to have saved the lives of at least four people, including two children, involved in a horror collision that claimed the lives of two others.

A male and female, both aged 34 from Yuendumu, died as a result of the two-car crash on the corner of Stuart Highway and Ross Highway in Alice Springs at 6:45pm on Friday.

Police believe the crash happened when a Ford Sedan failed to give way and collided with a Toyota Troopcarrier.

The driver of the sedan and passenger seated behind the driver were killed instantly.

The passenger in the front of the sedan remains in a stable condition at Alice Springs Hospital. Two adults and two children travelling in the Troopcarrier survived and were taken to Alice Springs Hospital, where one remains in a stable condition.

One of the first people on the scene, Scotty Mclaren, wrote on NT police’s Facbook page that when he arrived a guy in a red shirt was kicking out the windscreen of the Troopcarrier to get the occupants out.

“The screams of pain and anguish from the woman in the troupie is something I will never ever forget,” he said.

“The troupie had rolled onto its side, so the people inside had only one way of escape ... The front window.

Mr McLaren said once the man in the red shirt had helped free the people in the Troopcarrier he went to the sedan.

“The man in the red shirt knew he couldn’t do anything, and ill never forget him putting his hands on his head not sure what to do next. This bloke is a hero!” he wrote.

Mr Mclaren was helping to direct traffic during the ordeal.

“Once the police took down my name and the second police car came to the scene for traffic control I left,” he wrote.

“This was when the ambos were readying the sheet and body bags. I didn’t want or need to see that, It already was a horrific scene.

“My thoughts go to the families and I congratulate the community and emergency services on their outstanding work.”

Territory Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen said it was a tragic outcome for what police had hoped would be a ‘Fatlity Free Friday’.

“(Wearing seatbelts) is the law and it's the law for a reason: seatbelts save lives,” she said.

Investigations into the crash are continuing. The road toll now stands at 16 compared to 15 at the same time last year.