THE Katherine region is currently experiencing a horrible spate of motor vehicle accidents.
Less than three weeks after the tragic death of young Katherine father Mitch Jones, another two men have been killed on roads in Katherine and Borroloola, and more than ten people were injured in various crashes in the region only within the last week.
On Sunday a man in his 50s died when the car he was travelling in rolled near Borroloola.
The driver and three passengers had to be transported to Darwin for medical treatment, and another passenger was treated by health staff at Borroloola.
Police said it is believed the crash was caused by a bald rear tyre deflating suddenly.
Also on Sunday a man was found dead behind the wheel when his ute crashed into a fence at Boris’ Autosales on the Victoria Highway in Katherine.
It is believed he died from a heart attack.
On Saturday two badly injured men had to be medivacced to Darwin by a CareFlight retrieval team after they suffered multiple injuries in a car crash near Mataranka.
The 29-year-old and 25-year-old men were stabilised at the scene by Mataranka emergency services personnel then taken by St John paramedics to Katherine Hospital, before they were flown to Darwin.
Two other men with lesser injuries from the crash had to be treated at Katherine Hospital.
And on Monday afternoon a South Australian couple were involved in a vehicle rollover on the Roper Highway, about 20km south-east of Mataranka.
Acting Superintendent Gavin Kennedy said the 72-year-old female driver and her 76-year-old passenger were travelling along the Roper Highway towing a boat trailer when a rear right tyre started to shred which caused the vehicle to veer off the road and roll.
“Fortunately the driver and passenger were both wearing seatbelts,” A/Supt Kennedy said.
“Territory Highways can be unforgiving, it is important for drivers to regularly check the tyre pressures, wear and quality of their tyres before embarking on and during long road-trips.”
In 2012 police have recorded about 115 non-injury crashes and 29 motor vehicle accidents with in which people were injured on roads in the Katherine region.
Seven people have died on Katherine roads in 2012, the NT road toll stands at 22.