A1 Accident Claims Four Lives
Pini Bothoko | Monday May 6, 2019 12:53
Confirming the accident, assistant commissioner, divisional traffic officer Pelontle Kesupile said it occurred at Lose between Mahalapye and Radisele villages on Saturday morning.
The 21 people were members of the African Apostolic Church who were travelling from Palapye to Mahalapye in a combi. Kesupile said the driver lost control resulting in the accident. Subsequent to the road mishap, “Four people died on the spot, six people are seriously injured and currently in hospital at Mahalapye Hospital and 11 people including the driver sustained minior injuries.
They were treated and later released on that same day,” Kesupile explained.
He said the driver, a 23-year-old Zimbabwean man is currently in custody while investigations on the case are ongoing.
Kesupile said the driver did not have documents that would have allowed him to drive a public transport, not even a drivers’ licence.“The driver’s holding charge is causing death with careless driving and he is likely to be arraigned today at Mahalapye Magistrates Court,” Kesupile said.
“He failed to produce PRDP and a drivers’ licence. The driver also faces an offence of unlawfully staying in Botswana after we discovered that his passport expired in March.” Kesupile added three people including the driver were Zimbabwean nationals and are still to ascertain whether they are illegal immigrants or not.
“The deceased and the seriously injured are Zimbabweans. We are yet to establish whether the injured has a valid passport,” he said.
The traffic boss expressed concern over the escalating fatal accidents in his policing area. Last weekend; five people lost their lives in separate road accidents, one at Mahalapye, Machaneng, Palapye, Serowe and Serule respectively.
He said road accidents claim people’s lives in high numbers despite police visibility on the roads as well as regular public awareness about road carnages.
Kesupile pleaded with motorists to be cautious at all times and drive at a minimum speed to avoid unnecessary accidents.
“We try to be visible on the road at all times, but members of the public should take responsibility for their lives and not follow road signs because they see police on the road,” he said.