Consecutive crashes in Madang

A MAN is fighting for his life at the Modilon General Hospital after his truck ran off the road and crashed into another vehicle which had crashed 20 minutes earlier.
The vehicles, both believed to be owned by a Southern Highlander and engaged at the Basamuk road, were heading back to the Southern Highlands loaded with timber.
The first vehicle, a Hino truck, raced downhill and crashed into the bush after its brakes failed. It slammed into a landslip at the foot of Tabo Mountain.
The driver and crew of the vehicle were rescued by villagers nearby.
Twenty minutes later, the second vehicle, a Nissan UD, descended down the same hill and crashed into the first vehicle, after it also suffered brake failure.
Police who were at the site said it was unusual to have two vehicles crash in the same area, suffering similar defects.
Police said the driver of the second vehicle had one of his legs severed. Villagers helped to locate the severed leg.
Dr Bobby Welsh at the Modilon Hospital said they amputated the driver’s leg but his other leg was also in bad shape.