A 38-year-old driver who allegedly fled the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Howard Springs on Tuesday is now facing multiple charges, including hit-and-run causing death, NT Police said.

The incident resulted in the death of a 31-year-old male motorcycle rider around 9:30 pm Tuesday.

Major crash investigators determined the 38-year-old man was driving a Toyota ute at the time that the motorcyclist crashed into the rear end of the vehicle “resulting in the rider’s death”.

He was arrested at the Darwin airport Friday night after returning to the NT from an undisclosed location.

The 38-year-old man is also facing additional charges of failing to stop after the crash and failing to report the crash, police said.

Police said they believe the fatal crash occurred when the motorcyclist tried to overtake another vehicle at high speed and lost control of his motorcycle on Whitewood Road before the intersection with Howard Springs Road and crashed into the rear of the vehicle.

“If you are involved in a crash, regardless of whether you are at fault or not, you must stop, you must help others involved and you must then report the incident to police as soon as possible,” NT Police Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said in a statement.

“Not stopping after being involved in a crash showed a callous disregard for human life.”

The ute driver was granted bail and is scheduled to appear in the Darwin Local Court next month.

“If you think you can drive away undetected because there were no witnesses, as this driver did, then think again,” Snr Sgt Linder said.

“You will be identified. You will be arrested and you will be sent to court to explain your actions to a judge.”

The NT’s road deaths reduce by 14 per cent for 2022-23 to 37 – from the previous 43 during the previous reporting year – however, the NT still has the highest per capita rate of road deaths at 14.76 annually per 100,000 population, against the national average of 4.61.