A 16-year-old male is in a serious condition in hospital after a single vehicle crash in Palmerston overnight.

Police received a report around 1.30am that a Ford Laser sedan had hit a tree in Chung Wah Avenue.

Police Fire and Ambulance crews arrived to find a 16-year-old youth trapped in the rear passenger seat. He was cut out of the vehicle and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious chest and head in juries.

The 17-year-old driver of the car and two other 16-year-old males escaped with minor injuries.

Senior Sergeant Bob Harrison said it appeared the driver was turning into Chung Wah Avenue from Temple Terrace when he lost control of the vehicle which then hit a tree on a median strip.

“The young driver appears to have been in the process of changing lanes to avoid the wet road surface when he lost control of the vehicle which then hit the kerb before mounting the median strip,” Sen Sgt Harrison said.

“The vehicle then continued to travel out of control before hitting a palm tree side-on and causing the vehicle to roll onto its side. The 16-year-old rear seat passenger was trapped for about 30 minutes before Fire and Rescue crews managed to extricate him from the vehicle. He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Darwin Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

“This incident  is another example of drivers needing to drive to their abilities and keep an eye out for changing road conditions.”

Police from the major Crash Unit were called to the scene and are investigating.

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Theresa Kuilboer
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