Two dead after bus tumbles

By HEZRON KISING
TWO people died and several others were receiving attention at Angau Hospital for injuries after their 25-seater public motor vehicle (bus) travelling along the Highlands Highway rolled near Erap Farm, about 40km out of Lae, yesterday morning, police say.
Acting Morobe police commander Chief Insp John Daviaga said the bus was travelling from Mt Hagen to Lae.
It was not clear how many passengers were admitted at the hospital. Chief Insp Daviaga said according to his police officers, who attended the scene of the accident, a man died on the spot while the other passed away while being transported to hospital.
The accident happened between 7am and 8am.
Police claimed the driver fell asleep and passengers were shouting and scolding at him to wake up.
He allegedly lost control and the vehicle swayed left and then right.
It nearly ran down school children who were on their way to school, police said.
They claimed the bus left its lane, hit a rain-tree beside the road and rolled several times.
Police alleged that on Monday, the bus, only three months old, travelled to Mt Hagen with passengers, arriving there on Tuesday morning.