Cop dies as car plunges into river

 ONE member of the Mobile Squad Six died and three others injured after their vehicle plunged into the Mendi River, Southern Highlands.

Acting police commander for the Western End region Supt Mark Yagen told The National yesterday that the policemen who were deployed to the LNG project sites in Hela were returning from Mt Hagen last Friday when the accident occurred.

Yangen said the accident happened after the driver tried to apply the brakes when another vehicle was approaching the one-lane bridge near Kiburru lodge. He said the vehicle plunged into the river.

Yagen added that the driver was killed instantly while three others in the vehicle were saved by locals who pulled them out of the river.

“I want to thank villagers living near Mendi River Bridge for their quick actions to save the three policemen from drowning and recovering their two M16 rifles in the vehicle,” Yangen said.

He said if the villagers did not respond quickly, the policemen would have drowned  because the vehicle was in the river.