7 dead, 8 injured

By NICHOLAS SIREO
SEVEN people were killed and eight seriously injured when a coaster bus ran off the new four-lane road in Lae and plunged into a drain on Tuesday.
Doctor in-charge of accident and emergency at the Angau Memorial Hospital Dr Alex Peawi said they had treated survivors and received bodies of those killed.
Hospital reports said 26 injured people were brought to the hospital but two died a few hours later.
“Four people died instantly on impact from the crash while one was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead there.
Two died later on after they were brought to the emergency wards,” Dr Peawi said.
According to medical reports, 26 road accident survivors were brought to the hospital after 5pm but two died.
Dr Peawi told The National that 24 survivors sustained injuries and 16 were treated and discharged.
“This is the most serious road accident that occurred since the four-lane road was opened last year,” Peawi said.
“Drivers are taking advantage of the freeway and are driving carelessly at very high speed.”
Lae Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr described the accident as a tragedy.
He said the PMV bus was allegedly overloaded with passengers and was travelling out of Lae to Nadzab when it ran off the road and plunged into a drain near  Mainland Holding’s 3 Roses Flour Mill.
Wagambie said traffic police attended to the scene and investigations were underway.