A 35-year-old man is in a serious condition in the Alice Springs Hospital with injuries received when the car in which he was travelling hit a herd of camels near Yulara.

Police received a report  just after 8pm last night that a Hyundai Sonata had run into a herd of camels which were on the Lasseter Highway approximately  60 kilometres east of Yulara. The man was one of three occupants of the vehicle which was being driven west towards Yulara at the time of the incident.

The man received serious head injuries in the crash and was airlifted to Alice Springs Hospital last night. The two other males in the vehicle, including the 35-year-old driver, sustained minor injuries.

Sergeant Shaun Gill of Yulara Police said it appeared the car hit two camels in the herd which was crossing the road at the time. Sgt Gill said the crash was a stark reminder to motorists of the dangers of travelling outback roads at night.

“This is not the first time we have had to deal with car crashes involving animals on these remote roads,” Sgt Gill said.

“Motorists should be wary of the very real dangers of hitting wandering stock or large animals like camels which tend to roam across roads, especially at night when there is not so much traffic.

“It is far more sensible and safer to plan your trip so that you arrive at your destination during daylight hours when there is less chance of this sort of collision.”

Crash investigators from Alice Springs are attending the scene.

 Media Contact
Theresa Kuilboer
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