1 dead, 6 injured in car crash

By GLORIA BAUAI
A MOTOR vehicle accident involving a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Pathfinder Club members on Remembrance Day has left one dead and six others seriously injured at the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae, Morobe, an official has confirmed.
Senior church elder for the East Taraka SDA church Keith Smacker said about 35 passengers, including children between the ages of 10 and 16, were on board the hired vehicle.
Smacker said the group was on its way to a club camp at Wampit in Huon-Gulf when the vehicle experienced mechanical fault at Gabensis, along the Bulolo Highway.
“The vehicle drove up a small slope and just before reaching the top, the engine stopped and the vehicle rolled back downhill,” he said.
“Realising the danger, a few jumped out, but the rest were thrown overboard when the vehicle flipped and turned.”
Smacker said St John Ambulance and police were alerted while those injured were loaded onto a truck and transported back to Lae.
St John regional commander Anderson Poumb confirmed meeting the 28 injured midway to Lae.
Poumb said a female who suffered multiple fractures to the skull was transferred to the ambulance.
He advised the others to go to Angau for a thorough medical check.
“I called ahead to the emergency department so we had all hands on deck when we arrived,” Poumb said.
“The critical case was pronounced dead by the emergency doctor.”
Smacker said the female who died was a mother of six and the Pathfinder director.
“We are thankful that the children’s parents were understanding and cooperated with us,” he said.