Driver arrested, charged over accident

 The driver of a defective vehicle that plunged into the Pinei River at Pakia near Panguna mine in Bougainville last week has been arrested and charged, Arawa police station commander Januaries Vosivai said yesterday.

Godfrei Barako, 41, from Torokina South Bougainville, has been charged with driving with undue care and attendance, driving an un-road worthy and unregistered vehicle. 

He is in police custody in Buka.

The incident happened last Thursday morning when passengers from Torokina in South Bougainville, who were travelling to Arawa town, became involved in another nasty accident while travelling through the section of the Panguna to Arawa main highway.

Eleven males, two females and two children were rushed to the Arawa Health Centre. 

One  died and two were seriously with fractured skulls.

Five critically injured victims were referred to the Buka General Hospital for further examinations and treatment. 

Eye witnesses said the brake and gear failed when the vehicle was coming down the steep Pakia Gap section of the rugged Panguna mountain range, resulting in the accident.

Meanwhile, a decomposed body of an 18-year-old girl was found in the Panguna mine pit last Thursday. 

Vosivai said that the deceased was last seen leaving her house on the night of Feb 15.

“We are treating her death as a suspicious one and we are still investigating,” Vosivai said. 

He said that a similar incident occurred in 2014 when a decomposed body of a girl was found in the same area after she went missing for three weeks. 

“We managed to arrest a suspect, but the suspect is now on the run after escaping from the Buka police cell.”

Vosivai said that he was appealing to young girls not to leave houses without letting their family know of their movements.

He said girls must think of their safety first before getting out in the night.