A horrific road tragedy inthe Western Highlands Province occurred yesterday.
The accident took place at 8.30 inthe morning onthe Beiyer River/Hagen road when PMV bus with 32 people went down a cliff.
Twenty four people were killed instantly leaving five thers fighting for their lives in hospital.
Mr Namba is one of eight people who survivedthe 50 meter fall. His only injuries were to his arm. He lost a brther and niece.
Mr Namba said, “…I wasthe first person to be saved from this accident. I think that God saved my life and that is why I am still alive,hellip;”.
He saidthe accident occurred atthe Munjikina area just before Beiyer River, claimingthe vehicle veered offthe road becausethe driver fell asleep atthe wheel.
This wasthe scene atthe Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital yesterday.
While hospital staff carrlied bodies ofthe passengers intothe morgue, mourning relatives gthered to identifytheir immediate family members.
Amongthe dead, were two young children aged 7 and 12.
The National Road Safety Council has engaged several engineers to travel to Mt Hagen to investigatethe cause ofthe accident.
Mr. Terema said “Before an accident happens, everyone has to playtheir part… likethe owner for example. Ifthe diver knows thatthe driver is inexperienced driver, or ifthe driver is underthe influence of liquor, or ifthe driver is unlicensedthenthe owner has to stop (him) before he drivesthe vehicle.”
Mr Terema sympathized with families ofthe dead.
He emphasized that road safety isthe responsibility of vehicle owners, drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=KhXYfWXm7-M%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
