7 dead in PMV truck mishap

SEVEN people were killed when a truck veered off the road in the Central province and slammed into them last Friday.
Police and Port Moresby General Hospital authorities said those killed were five women and two children. It is believed they died instantly when the PMV truck went off the road and slammed into them along the Hiritano Highway.
Police said the seven were all standing at the side of the road with bags of garden produce, waiting for transport to go to Gordon Market in Port Moresby to sell their goods.
The tragedy occurr-ed around 2pm last Friday afternoon.
Police said the PMV truck travelling out of Port Moresby tried to overtake another vehicle in front of it near the Brown River bridge at Berere in the Vanapa area, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it ran into those standing beside the road.
The seven who died are believed to be from Goilala and Kerema.
Police chief of operations Andy Bawa said yesterday the seven people died instantly from the impact.
He said the police Highway Patrol arrived at the scene after being contacted and have identified the driver of the PMV truck, who is currently in police custody.
Mr Bawa said yesterday that an investigation is being carried out by police into the matter.
A staff member at Port Moresby General Hospital’s accident and emergency unit said the bodies of the seven were brought in around 7pm.
“It was a terrible accident,” she said.