By Bethanie Harriman – EM TV News, Lae
The father’s of four girls killed after a car hit them at Lae’s Cassia Crescent road have called on authorities to impose stricter laws on drink driving and ensure all roads in future are fitted with footpaths.
Napoleon Kaimala, Phillip Kepas, Andy Adaidiro and David SilaKaiak have called on the civil works department to approve road designs that have proper footpaths and called for more severe laws to punish those caught drink driving.
Their concerns come as they mourn the loss of four girls from the same family, two of them were Grade 12 students at Lae Secondary, one a Grade 10 student at the same school and the other an employee of Ok Tedi Mining Limited.
On Saturday morning, Jamalia Kaimala, Delta Kepas, Elizabeth Napoleon, with her baby, and Vivian Andy left their home to meet Magdalene SilaKaiak for a swim at Huon Gulf’s swimming pool.
Moments after the swim, on their way to Eriku whilst walking on Lae’s Cassia Crescent road a speeding vehicle hit all five, including the baby, killing the four of them.
Elizabeth continues to fight for her life in hospital after her leg was amputated, her baby luckily survived.
Jamilia’s father, Napolean Kamilia, and the three other fathers who lost their daughters spoke about the sudden loss with much sadness.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, called on traffic police and transport inspectors to clamp down on drink driving, speeding and reckless use of motor vehicles.
“For far to long all over, the country [and] traffic police have turned a blind eye to drink driving and speeding and this is the case in Morobe Province, especially in Lae,” he said.
“For far to long police just let offenders off by confiscating their alcohol, pouring it over their heads, or making them do push-ups.”
Governor Naru also expressed extreme disappointment in learning the fatal accident was caused by the misuse of vehicles bought by public funds.
Police officers who inspected the vehicle said there was evidence of drink driving.
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