A young Darwin man is lucky to be alive after crashing his small vehicle into large utility vehicle on the Stuart Highway this morning.

At 10:15am the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre received a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Stuart Highway and Tivendale Road, Knuckey Lagoon.

Earlier, a 47-year-old male was driving a black, Ford F-150 inbound along the Stuart Highway when a 21-year-old male, driving a silver Toyota Yaris, attempted to make a right-hand turn from the Stuart Highway onto Tivendale Road.

The driver of the Yaris failed to see the F-150 and collided heavily into the driver’s side causing extensive damage to both vehicles and blocking the inside lane.

Police, NTFRS and St Johns Ambulance attended the scene. The driver of the F-150 sustained a possible fractured ankle and a laceration to his arm and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by ambulance.

The 21-year-old driver, who is unlicensed, was breath tested at the scene of the crash and returned an indication blood alcohol level of 0.304%.

He was also taken to RDH for assessment of minor injuries and a blood sample was also taken for analysis.

Darwin Watch Commander Sean Patterson said the behaviour of the 21-year-old driver was simply unacceptable.

“The conduct of this offending driver was absolutely ludicrous. He put the community in danger and caused injuries to a person going about his daily business, Watch Commander Patterson said.

“Sixty people lost their lives on Territory roads last year and the actions of this young man had the potential to cause another, totally unnecessary fatality.

 “This type of behaviour is completely irresponsible and Police make no apology for continuing to target drivers impaired by alcohol and drugs.”

The Darwin Traffic Operations unit are continuing to investigate the crash.