By ELIZABETH VUVU
A CATHOLIC priest, allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, lost control of a vehicle which overturned at the Sikut/Matupit area in East New Britain province, killing two women and injuring two others.
The two died instantly while the other two female were in critical condition at the hospital.
Police said the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when they were returning from Sikut.
A police officer said the priest and the four women were among seven people in the vehicle at the time. The other three were a priest, a seminarian, and a civilian. The vehicle they were in belonged to the Sacred Heart Seminary at Rapolo.
The officer said the group was returning from Sikut and were supposedly heading towards Waran-goi.
The priest was allegedly driving down a slope at high speed when he lost control.
The vehicle skidded down the road and slammed into a tree, then rolled over a number of times, crushing the two women after being thrown off the vehicle.
Both women died instantly with multiple head and internal injuries. The other two women sustained serious injuries and both are in critical condition, with one being admitted at the Vunapope Hospital and the other at the Nonga Base Hospital.
The male passengers received minor injuries.
Police said some Sikut villagers allegedly threatened the male passengers who fled the scene.
The two deceased had been identified as Melissa Konge, 25, a mother of one, and Elvin Kumlara, who is married with two children. Both are from Matupit, Rabaul district.
Police said the Catholic priest was likely to be charged after a post-mortem is conducted on the two deceased.