TRAGEDY struck in a split second for a grey nomad couple from Cairns yesterday when a rock smashed through the windscreen of their four-wheel-drive killing a woman, 65, instantly.
The womans husband, who was driving, was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in shock after the freak accident on the Arnhem Highway, 30km east of the Adelaide River Crossing and 200m from a quarry entrance.
Crash investigator Sgt Trevor Seears said there was no evidence the rock, which was 15cm wide and 12 cm thick, came from the quarry
"Its just unlucky," Sgt Seears said.
The couple were on their way to Wildman River, Kakadu, about 160km southeast of Darwin, where they were to meet friends for a fishing getaway.
Yesterday afternoon their friends, who were out of mobile range, were still waiting for them to arrive.
About 6pm, police were trying to contact the ranger at Wildman River so he could inform the friends of the terrible news.
The accident happened about 2.30pm.
Sgt Seears said a northbound vehicle drove over the rock moments before the Cairns couple passed.
"It tumbled underneath the vehicle and flicked back up off the road and got the outbound vehicle, unluckily enough on the passenger-side, and went straight through the windscreen," Sgt Seears said.
The rock struck the woman.
The rock was thrown with such force that it smashed through the back window of the car and hit the utes canopy.
The four people in the passing vehicle saw the rock flick up behind their car and hit the other car.
They stopped to help and perform CPR.
It was the second death on Top End roads yesterday.
The Territory road toll stands at 18 deaths, compared with 21 fatalities the same time last year.
