By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Mt Hagen
Seven people were killed in a car accident in Enga Province recently after a dump truck carrying eleven people collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck, killing its passengers.
Police say the accident happened around 5:30 am last Saturday (November 11) on the Yaibos road, along the Okuk highway in the Wapenamanda electorate.
It was alleged that the eleven passengers, including the driver who was traveling on an Isuzu Dump Truck, were under the influence of alcohol.
The police report stated that the dump truck was traveling from Wabag towards Wapenamanda at high speed when it ran into the semi-trailer. The semi-trailer was traveling up from Mt Hagen.
The driver of the dump truck and the two passengers in front were killed instantly. Four others died along the way, while the other four received serious injuries, and are receiving intensive care at the hospital.
Among the victims was a teacher, a Grade 10 student, and a Grade 8 student.
Enga Provincial Police Commander, Joseph Tondop, urged road users to be mindful when driving during this wet season in some parts of the Highlands Region.
