Shocking crashes claim lives
28 December 2018 | Accidents
Early on Sunday morning, three people died in a horror crash that involved a staggering 31 people.
About 23 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo, a minibus crashed into a bakkie killing eight-month-old Panduleni Walter, her 23-year-old mother Ndeshihafela Ruben and Mutumbulwa Hangula, aged 20.
The three were thrown out of the bakkie and died instantly. The minibus had been travelling behind the bakkie.
According to Nampa, Chief Inspector Hendrik Kharuchab said there were six people travelling in the small bakkie. Of these, a 20-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman are in a critical condition and were transferred from Otjiwarongo to the Katutura intermediate hospital.
All 22 passengers in the minibus survived the crash and a case of culpable homicide has been opened against the 39-year-old driver.
Earlier at the weekend, three people were killed in a head-on crash on the road between Oshakati and Omungwelume on Friday night. The police report said the head-on collision occurred between Toyota and Nissan bakkies near Oshikuyu at about 20:40.
Two passengers of one of the bakkies were killed immediately and another from the other bakkie died on the way to the Oshakati state hospital.
The next of kin of Elikana Nghinyenavali (38) Tadeus Haihambo (41) and Peter Nghishidimbwa (43) were informed of their deaths.
On Saturday there was another crash on the same road, this time near Onambedi village. It involved six people in two sedans. There were no fatalities recorded, but five people were treated at the Oshakati state hospital for various injuries.
Another head-on collision occurred on Friday at about 02:00 between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.
The two vehicles collided about 70 km north of Okahandja. Gift Kahale (33) and Julia Namaela Kalumbu (54), who were travelling in the sedan that was en route to Otjiwarongo, were killed. Three passengers in the minibus, which was travelling in a southerly direction, were injured.
Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, said they are worried about the increasing number of crashes, especially on smaller and more isolated roads. He added that in areas such as Okalongo and those surrounding Okahao, drivers without licences were making use of the routes.
“They take the risk because the area is more isolated, but they are still taking chances with their own lives and that of others,” he said.
Hamufungu added that at the end of the holiday season, the police will release a full report on the accidents that occurred over the festive period.
AUGETTO GRAIG
About 23 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo, a minibus crashed into a bakkie killing eight-month-old Panduleni Walter, her 23-year-old mother Ndeshihafela Ruben and Mutumbulwa Hangula, aged 20.
The three were thrown out of the bakkie and died instantly. The minibus had been travelling behind the bakkie.
According to Nampa, Chief Inspector Hendrik Kharuchab said there were six people travelling in the small bakkie. Of these, a 20-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman are in a critical condition and were transferred from Otjiwarongo to the Katutura intermediate hospital.
All 22 passengers in the minibus survived the crash and a case of culpable homicide has been opened against the 39-year-old driver.
Earlier at the weekend, three people were killed in a head-on crash on the road between Oshakati and Omungwelume on Friday night. The police report said the head-on collision occurred between Toyota and Nissan bakkies near Oshikuyu at about 20:40.
Two passengers of one of the bakkies were killed immediately and another from the other bakkie died on the way to the Oshakati state hospital.
The next of kin of Elikana Nghinyenavali (38) Tadeus Haihambo (41) and Peter Nghishidimbwa (43) were informed of their deaths.
On Saturday there was another crash on the same road, this time near Onambedi village. It involved six people in two sedans. There were no fatalities recorded, but five people were treated at the Oshakati state hospital for various injuries.
Another head-on collision occurred on Friday at about 02:00 between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.
The two vehicles collided about 70 km north of Okahandja. Gift Kahale (33) and Julia Namaela Kalumbu (54), who were travelling in the sedan that was en route to Otjiwarongo, were killed. Three passengers in the minibus, which was travelling in a southerly direction, were injured.
Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, said they are worried about the increasing number of crashes, especially on smaller and more isolated roads. He added that in areas such as Okalongo and those surrounding Okahao, drivers without licences were making use of the routes.
“They take the risk because the area is more isolated, but they are still taking chances with their own lives and that of others,” he said.
Hamufungu added that at the end of the holiday season, the police will release a full report on the accidents that occurred over the festive period.
AUGETTO GRAIG
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