Another soldier dies in a car crash

Pini Bothoko | Tuesday August 15, 2017 17:15

Molepolole police have confirmed to be investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of a 27-year-old man who was working as a soldier at Thebephatshwa Airbase.

According to superintendent Tuelo Komanyane, the accident occurred along A12 road on Saturday early morning around 12:59am near Spar supermarket in Molepolole. 

He said the deceased was driving a Toyota Hilux and was alone when the tragedy struck.

 “It appear that he lost control of the car, hit the electricity pole and his car overturned,” Komanyane said. He was rushed to the Scottish Livingstone Hospital where he was certified dead.

In April, yet another middle-aged soldier based at Thebephatshwa Airbase died in a car crash along Molepolole-Thebephatshwa road after losing control of the vehicle. Statistics show that several soldiers have lost lives along the Molepolole-Thebephatshwa, when road returning from entertainment spots.

“In the past, we have observed that some accidents that could have been avoided claimed people’s lives just because they were tired and wanted a rest to continue with their journey,” Komanyane said. Komanyane raised concern over accidents that involved donkey carts at night in his policing area especially along Molepolole-Thamaga and Molepolole-Lephephe roads.

“So far we have recorded about three accidents that involved donkey carts in this policing area.

I am concerned that some Batswana have the habit of travelling at night with their donkey carts.

Usually those donkey carts do not have reflectors something that puts drivers at risk of being involved in road accidents,” Komanyane said.

He stated that usually the donkey carts come from neighbouring cattle posts to fetch water, for shopping or any other social activities in Molepolole.