One dead after bus-truck collision

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POLICE in Eastern Highlands yesterday warned owners of trucking companies to employ experienced and qualified drivers following a fatal accident in Goroka yesterday.
The driver of a 15-seater bus was killed instantly in a collision.
Eastern Highlands police commander Supt Alex N’Drasal issued the driver warning when confirming that between 6am and 7am a fuel tanker collided with a 15-seater PMV bus, killing the bus driver.
He called for owners of trucking companies to screen drivers’ qualification and experience   properly before employing them.
Supt N’Drasal identified the driver of the truck as Tony Pombra, of Pindiapu village in Pangia, Southern Highlands. He said the driver escaped from the accident scene at Ato Market but was arrested and locked up.
He said the accident was caused by slippery conditions after heavy rain in Goroka yesterday.
“These days up in the Highlands, the weather is really unpredictable. Sometimes it will rain, another day it will be a sunny day, windy day and cloudy. We cannot predict the weather. “I caution drivers to adapt to the weather condition and drive with due care,” he said.
N’Drasal said drivers should comply with traffic rules at all times and should be cautious.
N’Drasal said truck drivers should be properly trained before they are allowed to drive along the Highlands Highway.
A spokesman of the family who lost the bus driver and Ward seven councillor Keko Kokao  said the deceased was Daddy Ku, originally from Bena but living in Goroka for nine years.