Students among 30 injured in bus collision

THREE students were among 30 people injured in a bus accident along Seventh Street in Lae, Morobe, yesterday.
Two city 13A route buses travelling from opposite directions collided at about 10am.
Two primary school students with their families and an Assemblies of God Secondary School student sustained injuries.
Huonville Primary School grade eight student Humphrey Samalavi, 15, was in one of the busses with his mum Nancy, 46, and his eight-year-old sister.
Samalavi said they were heading to Chinatown.
“I was sitting in the seat next to the one opposite driver,” he explained.
“I saw the driver sleeping while the crew was calling for other passengers.
“I felt uncomfortable so we wanted to get off the bus, but it was already full so we couldn’t leave.
“When we drove past a sharp bend at YWCA ladies’ hostel, the driver moved into the opposite lane.
“When I saw that I held onto the seat in front of me and we bumped.”
Nancy said she closed her eyes when she saw that they were about to crash. “I opened my eyes when I heard my children calling for me.”
Fire Service officers cut out the front-end of bus to free the drivers while police vehicles pulled the buses apart.
Angau Hospital accidents and emergency officer Dr Alex Peawi said 30 people were injured and treated for minor injuries.
“Drivers of both buses were seriously injured but are in stable condition,” Peawi said.
“It’s quiet, unlike previous Easter weekends. But alcohol is still a problem, we received one or two cases of alcohol-related stab wounds and assaults.”