Police have released frightening dashcam footage of a stolen ute almost colliding with a road train near Alice Springs yesterday.
The road train was carrying four tankers of fuel.
Police are calling for witnesses to an incident of dangerous driving of a stolen motor vehicle north of Alice Springs yesterday, to contact them.
Around 3pm on Sunday a white Toyota Hilux single-cab ute with NT registration CD23XA was parked on the corner of Stuart Highway and Sargent Street when it was allegedly stolen by a woman.
The woman was seen driving north of Alice Springs and is alleged to have stopped at the Aileron Road House using a stolen credit card to purchase items.
Around 4pm a road train carrying four tankers of fuel was travelling south bound on the Stuart Highway, roughly 2.5km from the Aileron Road House when the driver observed the stolen ute travelling towards him in the wrong lane and at high speed.
The road train driver immediately slowed down but the stolen motor vehicle continued to drive head on at the road train while flicking its lights before veering into the correct lane half a second from the bull bar of the road train, narrowly avoiding a head on collision.
Superintendent Pauline Vicary praised the actions of the driver who managed to control the heavy vehicle during the incident.
"No one knows how they will react in a situation until it actually happens, and in this instance the driver did an outstanding job in a heart-stopping situation," said Superintendent Vicary
"The vehicle was sighted south of Ti Tree and our members pursued it for some time before it headed bush at speed."
"We haven't caught the offender, but will continue to investigate all avenues of enquiry to identify the person and hold them accountable for their dangerous actions."
Police urge anyone who witnessed the dangerous driving in the stolen motor vehicle between 3pm and 6pm on Sunday to contact police on 131 444 or report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 reference PROMIS number 9085324.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the stolen motor vehicle or information which may assist with investigations is urged to contact police on 131 444.
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
