Roads claim at least 10 lives

TEN people died as the Namibian roads turned bloody over the long weekend, while 13 others were treated for injuries sustained in the same car accidents.

A village in the North lost four young men after their Toyota Conquest went head-to-head with an oncoming Isuzu bakkie shortly after lunchtime on Sunday – Heroes’ Day – while a fifth person, a child, died in the Oshakati State Hospital. The young men were allegedly speeding on the Ondangwa-Omuthiya main road at Oniingo village and tried to overtake another vehicle when they collided head-on with the Isuzu.The child was in the Isuzu.Three others in the same bakkie sustained serious injuries and were treated at the Onandjokwe Hospital.They are all in a stable condition.Police spokesperson Sergeant Stephan Nuuyi confirmed the accident but was unable to give names or more details.Nuuyi said two more people died at around 02h00 on Saturday on the Ondangwa-Oshivelo main road when the Citigolf in which they were travelling hit a donkey and overturned.Five-year-old Michael Katene died on the spot while Rehabeam Katene died at the Onandjokwe Hospital.Three others, including the driver, were seriously injured while two sustained minor injuries.On Friday, two bakkies collided on the Ondangwa-Omuthiya main road at Onyaanya village at around 22h00.Three people were injured and received treatment at the Onandjokwe Hospital.Nuuyi said Police at Okakarara opened an inquest after Ambrosius Kasiringua (38) died in a car accident about 26 km from the town on Saturday.Kasiringua, who was driving a Renault, hit a warthog, lost control of the car and overturned.Three others in the car were slightly injured.The same day, at Gobabis, Wilhelmina Pieters died on the spot after she was hit by a vehicle at around 20h50 in front of the municipal building in Epako township.Another pedestrian injured in the same accident is recovering in the Gobabis State Hospital.At around 08h30 on Sunday, a tourist from an unknown country died on the Trans-Kalahari road after the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned.The 48-year-old passenger died on the spot.Nuuyi was not able to provide any information on the tourist.2 SHOT DEAD IN HOLD-UP In another shocking incident over the Heroes’ Day long weekend, two women lost their lives on Friday evening in a gambling house robbery in Khomasdal.Two unknown suspects allegedly entered the Taxi Rank Gambling House at around 23h20 and ordered everyone to lie on the ground.One woman reportedly refused to co-operate and was shot.She died on the spot.Another woman tried to run away and was also shot and killed.Two others were shot and wounded, while the barman was pistol-whipped as the robbers demanded money.Sergeant Nuuyi said the names of the deceased and those injured were not available yet and Police investigations were still under way.Funska Wirths, an adult woman, was robbed in Khomasdal at around 03h30 during the early hours of Sunday.Sergeant Nuuyi said Wirths was approached by three armed men at an ATM in Otjomuise.They pointed a gun at her, took her to Sewende Laan in Khomasdal and forced her to withdraw N$1 000 from the ATM.One of the suspects then shot Wirths before making off with her watch, two rings, three jerseys, a cellphone and the N$1 000 in cash.None of the suspects had been arrested by yesterday afternoon.The young men were allegedly speeding on the Ondangwa-Omuthiya main road at Oniingo village and tried to overtake another vehicle when they collided head-on with the Isuzu.The child was in the Isuzu.Three others in the same bakkie sustained serious injuries and were treated at the Onandjokwe Hospital.They are all in a stable condition.Police spokesperson Sergeant Stephan Nuuyi confirmed the accident but was unable to give names or more details.Nuuyi said two more people died at around 02h00 on Saturday on the Ondangwa-Oshivelo main road when the Citigolf in which they were travelling hit a donkey and overturned. Five-year-old Michael Katene died on the spot while Rehabeam Katene died at the Onandjokwe Hospital.Three others, including the driver, were seriously injured while two sustained minor injuries.On Friday, two bakkies collided on the Ondangwa-Omuthiya main road at Onyaanya village at around 22h00.Three people were injured and received treatment at the Onandjokwe Hospital.Nuuyi said Police at Okakarara opened an inquest after Ambrosius Kasiringua (38) died in a car accident about 26 km from the town on Saturday.Kasiringua, who was driving a Renault, hit a warthog, lost control of the car and overturned.Three others in the car were slightly injured.The same day, at Gobabis, Wilhelmina Pieters died on the spot after she was hit by a vehicle at around 20h50 in front of the municipal building in Epako township.Another pedestrian injured in the same accident is recovering in the Gobabis State Hospital.At around 08h30 on Sunday, a tourist from an unknown country died on the Trans-Kalahari road after the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned.The 48-year-old passenger died on the spot.Nuuyi was not able to provide any information on the tourist.2 SHOT DEAD IN HOLD-UP In another shocking incident over the Heroes’ Day long weekend, two women lost their lives on Friday evening in a gambling house robbery in Khomasdal.Two unknown suspects allegedly entered the Taxi Rank Gambling House at around 23h20 and ordered everyone to lie on the ground.One woman reportedly refused to co-operate and was shot.She died on the spot.Another woman tried to run away and was also shot and killed.Two others were shot and wounded, while the barman was pistol-whipped as the robbers demanded money.Sergeant Nuuyi said the names of the deceased and those injured were not available yet and Police investigations were still under way.Funska Wirths, an adult woman, was robbed in Khomasdal at around 03h30 during the early hours of Sunday.Sergeant Nuuyi said Wirths was approached by three armed men at an ATM in Otjomuise.They pointed a gun at her, took her to Sewende Laan in Khomasdal and forced her to withdraw N$1 000 from the ATM.One of the suspects then shot Wirths before making off with her watch, two rings, three jerseys, a cellphone and the N$1 000 in cash.None of the suspects had been arrested by yesterday afternoon.