Tari student killed in accident

 A SCHOOL student was killed in a nasty road accident at Halimbu, junction on the outskirts of Tari, Southern Highlands, last Saturday.

The deceased identified as  James Tita, 17, a Grade 8 student at Waleta primary school was travelling in a maroon open back Toyota LandCruiser utility when the vehicle veered of the road and rolled several times, killing the teenager.

Six others were also injured in the accident. The driver has gone into hiding.  

Police went to the accident scene on Saturday and took pictures of the mangled vehicle and spoke to relatives of the crash victim but the aggrieved relatives could not give any information.

However, a passenger, who survived the crash said that the vehicle they were travelling in had developed mechanical problems as it was descending a slope leading to the Halimbu junction.

The survivor said the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled several times, ejecting them in all directions.

Tari police have appealed to the driver, Yakopia Hupiako from Halimbu village, to come out and report to them.