Eba Kandovazu
THE Police have released the names of the six people who died in Sunday’s car accident between Otjiwarongo and Okahandja.
The deceased are identified as Brian Bronkhorst, aged six, Ciska Bronkhorst, 27, Josefina Ileka, 24, Zita Augusto, 48, Ndahambelela Laudika Nghiwilepo, 30 and Silks Ndesipanda Simon 27.
Nampol spokesperson, Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga says the surviving persons, drivers Lucky Kalembela, 30, and Willie Henri Bronkhorst, 32 are currently fighting for their lives in Windhoek hospitals as they sustained serious injuries.
The car accident happened some 30 kilometers south of Otjiwarongo towards Okahandja, Kuwinga stated. It is reported that the two vehicles involved in the accident are a Jetta and Golf GTI. Were According to Kuwinga, an unidentified bakkie that was travelling from Otjiwarongo to Okahandja overtook the GTI on a blind spot while the Jetta was approaching the opposite direction from Okahandja. “The driver of the Jetta was trying to avoid a collision with the oncoming pick-up and swerved to the right side of the road and collided head-on with the Golf GTI which was overtaken by the pick-up,” he said. All six passengers were declared dead at the scene of the accident and their bodies transported to the Otjiwarongo police mortuary, Kuwinga added.
Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) said it would assist the deceased persons’ families with funeral arrangements.
“The families are also encouraged to contact the MVA Fund Service Centre in Otjiwarongo or any other nearest Service Centre in Otavi, Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop, Ongwediva, Rundu and Katima Mulilo for funeral and related benefits offered by the Fund,” MVA spokesperson Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said.
According to her, a recently concluded study by the fund found that 72percent of car accidents are related to human factors.
“The fund therefore pleads with all road users, especially drivers, to unlearn unsafe behaviour including speeding, unsafe overtaking, distracting driving such as using mobile phones, inattentiveness and non-adherence to general road rules. Every road user is expected to use the road safely and comply with traffic rules and regulations to minimise the risks,” Gaomas-Guchu stressed. She also stated that the fund would be assisting the accident
