TWO DEAD; NINE SEVERELY INJURED IN FATAL CAR ACCIDENT IN MINJ
By Sandra ULG
A fatal car accident involving a 25-seater coaster bus collided with a fifteen-seater Hiace bus in Kumbal Waghi Bruk, Jiwaka Province along the Okuk Higway has left two dead and nine others severely injured last Friday.
Jiwaka Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Laimo Asi in an interview with Kalang News said, the cause of the fatal accident was unnecessary overtaking and excessive speeding.
Chief Inspector Asi explained, the coaster bus tried to overtake the 15-seater bus, however the unfortunate incident occured at same instance the 15 seater bus also attempted to overtake, resulting in both vehicles colliding, heading into the Waghi river.
The acting PPC says the deceased and those that were injured were rushed to the Kudjip Nazerene Hospital in Kudjip.
Chief Inspector Asi says the two deceased, was the driver and owner of the 15-seater Hiace bus from Jiwaka and and a female passenger of the Coaster bus from Eastern Highlands.
The other 9 injured, seven were passengers from the Coaster bus, including 2 females and 5 Males and two other male passengers are from the fifteen-seater Hiace bus.
Acting PPC Asi strongly warned drivers commuting along the highway to be very cautious when driving along the highway as there is always a tendency of running on another oncoming vehicle or running over the pedestrian.
Asi who was recently appointed to take up the post as PPC says he has been in the province for almost a month and has witnessed a lot of vehicles overloading and passengers are likely to get serious injuries or die when they involve in accidents.
He says there is always a “do not care attitude” displayed by drivers involving unnecessary speeding, overtaking and stopping of vehicles right in the middle of the roads.
He adds that these serious injuries or fatalities can be avoided if the drivers are careful and are more responsible and respectful to other road users.
Picture Caption: Jiwaka Acting PPC, Chief Inspector Laimo Asi.
