NT Police are seeking the public’s assistance as it continues to investigate the circumstances of a vehicle rollover on the Stuart Highway south of Stuarts Well on Wednesday afternoon, that allegedly started with a failure to pay for fuel and ended with one man ejected from his vehicle and another arrested.

Police said they received reports of the crash approximately 10km south of Stuarts Well around 2:45pm Wednesday afternoon from an employee of a service station who alleged the vehicle that rolled had left the station without paying for fuel.

Police said in a statement that the employee from the service station followed the vehicle along the Stuart Highway after the occupants failed to pay for the fuel.

“It is further alleged the two vehicles travelled alongside each other before a collision occurred, causing one vehicle to leave the roadway and roll,” police media director Mark Wilton said in the statement.

“The employee returned to the service station and contacted police.

“Police and St John Ambulance attended [the crash scene] and located a 37-year-old male outside the vehicle and a 38-year-old female inside the vehicle. Both occupants were stabilised at the scene before they were conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital where they remain in critical but stable conditions.”

Mr Wilton said a 22-year-old male was later arrested and is “assisting police with enquiries”. He added the investigation is ongoing and police are working to “establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident”.

“Anyone with information, or dash cam footage from the Stuart Highway between Stuarts Well and approximately 30km south of Stuarts Well around the time of the incident, is urged to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference number P26021338,” Mr Wilton said.

“Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.”