One person has died and two others have been injured after the car they were travelling in left the road, rolled on its side, crashed into a tree and caught fire, NT Police has said.
The Major Crash Investigation Unit's Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Linder said the crash happened about 11:30pm on Friday night about 40 kilometres south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway.
Sergeant Linder said passing motorists stopped and tried to use their own car to push the overturned vehicle up and free those trapped inside.
"Bystanders were able to pull two people from the car, but the third remained trapped," he said.
"Tragically, one person was unable to be removed from the vehicle despite the heroic efforts of the passers-by, and that person died at the scene.
"The actions of those who stopped to assist, placing themselves at considerable risk, are highly commendable and I thank them."
Sergeant Linder said the two survivors, a man and a woman both about 48, were from Katherine.
"They're in hospital … I don't believe their injuries are life-threatening," he said.
Sergeant Linder said the person who died was yet to be identified and had been burnt "beyond recognition".
The crash follows a "particularly bad week" on the roads across the Territory, Sergeant Linder said.
"There have been 21 crashes across the Territory involving serious injuries or death in one week, eight of those involved vehicles rolling over," he said.
"There has been an influx of road users due to the borders opening. We urge people to be safe when travelling on the road, particularly major routes like the Stuart Highway.
"That said, the vast majority of these crashes are involving Territorians in close proximity to where they reside."
Traffic diversions are expected to be in place for the remainder of the afternoon and anyone travelling along the Stuart Highway today should expect delays.
