Niël Terblanché
Morne Openshaw, a well-known resident of Windhoek, was killed instantly when he drove headlong into a heavy truck near Arandis early on Tuesday morning.
According to Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the Head of Community Affairs Division of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, the crash occurred while the deceased and a worker were driving towards Swakopmund.
“It is alleged that dusty conditions caused poor visibility on the B2 Road which caused the driver to hit the trailer of a Toyota Quantum minibus that was busy pulling off the road from behind. The crash occurred about five kilometres outside Arandis on the way to Swakopmund,” he said.
Shapumba said that it is suspected that the impact between the minibus and the Mahindra bakkie caused Openshaw to lose control of his vehicle.
“The bakkie which was also pulling a trailer, swerved into oncoming traffic and the vehicle hit the truck travelling in the direction of Arandis on its front bumper,” he said.Openshaw’s co-worker was trapped in the wreckage and had to be removed with the aid of the Jaws of Life.
According to Inspector Shapumba, the deceased person’s passenger miraculously did not sustain any serious injuries despite the cab of the bakkie being crushed.
The truck driver also did not sustain any serious injuries.
Both survivors of the horrific crash received treatment for shock afterwards.
