Two killed on Kombat track
Two men died instantly after a TransNamib train pulling 60 empty tankers ran over them in the early hours of yesterday morning at Kombat in the Otjozondjupa Region.
The Namibian police’s regional commander, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze said the accident occurred at about 03:30.
“The two men were lying on the tracks when the incident occurred. It is suspected they were under the influence of alcohol,” said Tjiveze.
The men were aged 57 and 29 and their next of kin are yet to be informed.
Tjiveze cautioned residents alongside the Namibian railway lines at all times to refrain from resting or sleeping anywhere close to the railway line.
The train was travelling from Grootfontein to Otavi at the time of the incident.
Its 52-year-old driver who was travelling with his 41-year-old assistant told this news agency on condition of anonymity at the scene that he saw the two men lying on the railway line at a very close range.
“It was already too late to react and the train ran over them before it stopped,” he said.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
The names of the three people who died in the early hours of Sunday morning in a road accident outside Otjiwarongo have been released.
Tjiveze said the deceased were identified as Ndeshihafela Ruben, 23, her eight-month-old baby, Panduleni Walter and the 20-year-old Mutumbulwa Hangula.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that an Iveco minibus and a small Opel Corsa bakkie were following each other from the direction of Otjiwarongo to Otavi.
At about 22 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo, the minibus allegedly hit the Opel Corsa from behind and forced it off the road.
Acting Otjozondjupa crime investigations coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Hendrik Kharuchab said the Iveco minibus had 22 occupants. Nine people travelled in the bakkie.
“A baby, its mother and an adult male from the small bakkie were thrown out of the vehicle and died instantly,” said Kharuchab.
Six others who were also travelling in the bakkie aged ten, 16, 20, 24, 25 and 54, sustained slight to serious injuries and were taken to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital for medical attention. The 20-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were transferred to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital in critical condition.
All 22 occupants in the minibus survived the incident unharmed.
A culpable homicide docket has been opened at the Otjiwarongo Police Station against the 39-year-old minibus driver.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
NAMPA
The Namibian police’s regional commander, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze said the accident occurred at about 03:30.
“The two men were lying on the tracks when the incident occurred. It is suspected they were under the influence of alcohol,” said Tjiveze.
The men were aged 57 and 29 and their next of kin are yet to be informed.
Tjiveze cautioned residents alongside the Namibian railway lines at all times to refrain from resting or sleeping anywhere close to the railway line.
The train was travelling from Grootfontein to Otavi at the time of the incident.
Its 52-year-old driver who was travelling with his 41-year-old assistant told this news agency on condition of anonymity at the scene that he saw the two men lying on the railway line at a very close range.
“It was already too late to react and the train ran over them before it stopped,” he said.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
The names of the three people who died in the early hours of Sunday morning in a road accident outside Otjiwarongo have been released.
Tjiveze said the deceased were identified as Ndeshihafela Ruben, 23, her eight-month-old baby, Panduleni Walter and the 20-year-old Mutumbulwa Hangula.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that an Iveco minibus and a small Opel Corsa bakkie were following each other from the direction of Otjiwarongo to Otavi.
At about 22 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo, the minibus allegedly hit the Opel Corsa from behind and forced it off the road.
Acting Otjozondjupa crime investigations coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Hendrik Kharuchab said the Iveco minibus had 22 occupants. Nine people travelled in the bakkie.
“A baby, its mother and an adult male from the small bakkie were thrown out of the vehicle and died instantly,” said Kharuchab.
Six others who were also travelling in the bakkie aged ten, 16, 20, 24, 25 and 54, sustained slight to serious injuries and were taken to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital for medical attention. The 20-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were transferred to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital in critical condition.
All 22 occupants in the minibus survived the incident unharmed.
A culpable homicide docket has been opened at the Otjiwarongo Police Station against the 39-year-old minibus driver.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
NAMPA
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