Accident claims 4 lives

FOUR people were killed in a fatal road accident on Independence Day in Jiwaka region in Western Highlands.
Former North Waghi council president and human rights activist, Gabriel Gilma Aipe, was among the passengers killed in a car accident between 2pm and 3pm at Dona.
Aipe was killed together with another elderly man and two women.
He was travelling in a 15-seater PMV bus on his way home when the driver lost control.
The bus was believed to have rolled down a 200m hill killing Aipe and another instantly.
The other passengers on board were rushed to the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital where a mother was pronounced dead on arrival, while another woman died hours later.
The hospital confirmed the reports and said some of the other passengers were currently in stable conditions.
Provincial police commander Supt Kaiglo Ambane also confirmed the report but could not verify the details.
Aipe was the council president for 15 years, and, during this term, he planned and initiated the creation of Nondugl LLG.
In his term, he served the provincial administration as chairman for home affairs and youth, and the provincial executive council when former prime minister Paias Wingti and late Fr Robert Lak were governors.
He also initiated the establishment of the new Milep Provincial High School, as well as other key development projects in the district.