Road Mishap Claims Seven

Pini Bothoko | Monday January 21, 2019 13:29

The Toyota Hilux single cab bakkie had 18 people on board all suspected to be of Zimbabwean nationality. 

The accident occurred around 2am along B140 road three kilometres towards Sherwood.

Martinsdrift Police Station Commander, Superintendent Zibani Basupi told The Monitor that investigations into the matter were still ongoing at press time.

Basupi said six occupants aged between 17 and 71 suffered serious injuries while the remaining three aged between two and 36 sustained minor injuries.

“They were rushed to Palapye Primary Hospital where they are still hospitalised,” he said Thurday.

The were two females aged between 35 and 40 years and five males aged between 41 and 60 years.

The dead were taken to Mahalapye Hospital mortuary.

Soon after the police took the victims to the hospital and mortuary, investigations into their identities, as well as to locate their  relatives ensued.

“We are also yet to establish the relationship of both the deceased and those who are injured,” Basupi said.

He said amongst the 11 who survived, they found two had already left probably proceeding with their journey.

“The accident occurred when they were from Palapye heading towards Martinsdrift border post.

“We suspect that they were travelling to South Africa, hence our suspicions that the two might have crossed the border,” Basupi said.

He said it was a strange and obviously risky thing for 18 people to have squeezed themselves into the back of such a small car. 

“We are pleading with public members to be caution of their lives at all times and avoid putting their lives at such a similar risk.

“They should also avoid carrying huge loads that inhibit the car to performing to its best ability,” Basupi pleaded.

He said this was a strange accident that even claimed a large number of lives in his policing area this year.

“We are shocked and this worries us as the police that such a number of people could put their lives at risk squeezing themselves into a closed bakkie,” Basupi said.

Basupi added that road accidents continue to claim lives in high numbers.

He pleaded with motorists to be cautious at all times and drive at minimum speed.

He advised that the vehicle’s road-worthiness is very crucial and pleaded with motorists to avoid driving at high speed, especially at night.