Windhoek/Ongwediva
Twelve people died in four horrific road accidents that separately took place on the country’s roads between Friday and Sunday.
Among the 12 road accident victims were six who lost their lives in a single accident on Saturday evening in an incident on the main road between Outapi and Oshakati at around 18h00.
In the head-on collision between two Toyota pick-ups that claimed the six lives between Onhokolo village and Analulenge constituency, nine people also had to be hospitalised. The weekend’s most deadly crash occurred on the main road between Outapi and Oshakati.
Five people including the driver of the 2.7 bakkie died on the spot, while another person died later in the Outapi district hospital. Four of the deceased are female while two are male. The deceased are aged between 32 to 44 years.
According to the Omusati regional police public relations officer, Warrant Lineekela Shikongo, of the nine accident victims admitted to hospital two are in Outapi and seven were admitted to the Oshakati hospital and all those in hospital are in a critical condition.
The warrant officer further noted that one bakkie belonged to the Roman Catholic Church at Anamulenge and was being driven by nuns.
“A white Toyota Hilux Vvti bakkie, registration number N3643UP that was travelling from Oshakati was occupied by the two nuns. One died on the spot and the other one is in a critical condition in Oshakati hospital,” he said.
He further said that according to other reports a white Toyota Hilux 2.7 bakkie, registration number N160-583W, driving from Outapi and carrying 13 people was coming from a funeral at Ruacana to Oshikushashipya village in Etayi constituency in the same region.
The names of the deceased cannot be revealed because the next of kin were not yet informed.
Meanwhile the police have released the four names of Namibia Poultry Farm employees who died in a car crash last Friday afternoon when the driver who was overtaking another vehicle lost control, overturned and hit a stationary Toyota pickup.
Namibian police spokesperson Slogan Matheus said the deceased were identified as Anna Lameck, 28, Simon Haingura Abraham, 25, and Claudia Kaupandua, 31, and the driver Kevin Snyders, 36, who passed away in hospital on Saturday.
Matheus said the vehicle that overturned crashed into a Toyota pickup belonging to the Road Construction Company (RCC) working on the Okahandja-Windhoek road. It was parked alongside the road. The accident happened at about 17h00 on the B1 road between Okahandja and Windhoek, about 20km to Okahandja.
The Quantum bus was travelling from the direction of Windhoek to Okahandja where employees reside.
Matheus said there were 14 occupants in the vehicle, including the driver, and all sustained serious injuries.
“Two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene and the third person died shortly upon arrival at Okahandja hospital,” stated Matheus.
Matheus added that four people were admitted to the Okahandja hospital and seven people including the driver were transferred to Windhoek. The driver who was the only person admitted to the Lady Pohamba private hospital died on Saturday.
In another car accident in Windhoek, a 47-year-old man identified as Warnet Guy Losper died on Saturday evening between Okahandja and Windhoek near Okapuka Tannery. It is alleged Losper who drove a Volkswagen minibus lost control of the vehicle and overturned. “ The driver was alone in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Police in Oshana opened an inquest docket after David Angula, 58, lost control of the vehicle, hit a palm tree and died. The accident occurred on Sunday at about 01h00 on the gravel road between Onamungudo and Onhuno villages.
Matheus said the driver was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
A 39-year-old man lost control of his vehicle, overturned and sustained serious injuries. The accident happened on Saturday at about 14h24 on the gravel road between Omuthiya town and Onanke village. The driver, who was admitted to the Omuthiya hospital in a critical condition, was alone in the vehicle.