|
Three cheats death in car accident
By ANDREW ALPHONSE
THREE people narrowly escaped death following a car accident at Avi
section of the Highlands Highway outside Mt Hagen last Tuesday.
Among the trio was the managing director of Lome Paina Construction
Jacob Walo, who received 15 stitches after sustaining injuries to his
left eye brow in the accident.
Mr Walo’s firm is currently constructing new infrastructure projects
including a mess hall and houses for the PNG Defence Force Engineering
Battalion at Kerewil outside Banz in the Western Highlands province.
He was returning from Kerewil after picking up supplies for the projects
when one of the vehicle’s front wheels suddenly burst and the vehicle
veered off the road.
Mr Walo said the incident happened around 7.30pm.
He said the vehicle was travelling at high speed and the impact of the
burst tyre forced it off the road plunging into a concrete culvert.
Mr Walo’s injured eye brow was heavily patched with bandages when The
National visited him at his bed at the Mt Hagen General Hospital.
He also complained of developing severe internal chest pain and injuries
and was on medication.
One of his casual staff was in critical condition after severely hurting
his back, making it difficult for him to move about.
A nurse at the hospital said the staff with the spinal injury was likely
to be bedridden for six weeks.
Mr Walo, who was driving at the time of the incident, said locals and
bystanders at the accident scene – instead of helping them – ripped off
parts of the body and engine of the vehicle.
He said the vehicle was badly damaged and would cost a substantial
amount of money to have it repaired.
Head of Mount Hagen traffic Nelson Gihupa said that he had yet to
receive reports of the incident.
 
|
