Govt vehicle causes accident

By LLANE MUNAU

THE loss of an innocent life to drink driving on the Kabiufa section of the Highlands Highway in Eastern Highlands on Friday afternoon has greatly angered locals in the area.
On Friday afternoon a 10-seater vehicle belonging to the Chimbu provincial government crashed into a PMV bus, claiming the life of the driver and bus owner, local Kabiufa businessman, 47-year old Jim Takis.
According to eyewitnesses, the 10-seater was speeding when approaching Notofana 7 Mile corner near Kabiufa.
The PMV bus had just dropped off passengers and was slowly gaining momentum on the corner when the speeding 10-seater cut onto the PMV’s lane, crashing into the PMV driver’s side, causing the bus to flip.
Mr Gonase said when the locals ran to the accident site to help, the 10-seater passengers weren’t badly injured but the PMV passengers were in shock and the driver was squashed between the front engine and his seat.
He said those in the 10-seater were drunk and there were beer cans in the vehicle.
Mr Gonase said it took the locals one and a half hours to free the bus driver.
“We used crowbars, iron rods and axes to cut open the front of the bus to free his legs, which were stuck in the engine,” Mr Gonase said.
The driver was taken to Goroka base hospital but died at midnight from internal bleeding and blood loss.
Late Mr Takis’ death has greatly shocked his kinsmen, who are now calling on the EHP authorities to take action on reckless drivers, especially those from the upper Highlands provinces.
The Kabiufa community leaders raised their concerns yesterday that reckless drivers with don’t-care attitudes have claimed the lives of many Eastern Highlanders from Daulo Pass to Kassam Pass, causing much pain to families and communities along the highway; and nothing has been done about this carnage on the roads.
The Kabiufa community leaders said they will be petitioning Eastern Highlands provincial authorities on Thursday to talk about road safety issues and ways to tackle the problem of reckless driving in the province.
They will also be presenting their grievances on the loss of their brother and tribesman, late Mr Takis, to the Chimbu provincial government since the 10-seater which claimed the life of their kinsmen belongs to the Chimbu provincial government.