The bodies of a 61-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman have been recovered and efforts are underway to retrieve that of a 21-year-old man

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Three people have died after a vehicle carrying 17 people was swept off a river crossing south-west of Darwin, Northern Territory police said on Saturday.

The bodies of a 61-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman have been recovered from inside the troop carrier, and efforts are underway to retrieve that of a 21-year-old man.

Police said 12 people, including children, managed to escape from the vehicle on Friday night as it was swept off the road into the Moyle River, near Peppimenarti.

The area has been hit by high rainfall and police urged the public to avoid floodwaters but to instead wait for them to recede.

Witness statements have been taken and a report will be prepared for the coroner.