A family well known in United Kingdom (UK) law circles is currently in critical condition following a head-on collision at Mariental on Monday.
The couple has been identified as anthropologist Chris Low (57) and lawyer Emily Formby (57), who is a king’s counsel [senior counsel] in the UK.
The couple’s son, Arbyl Low (18), and family friend Jack Gordon are also in critical condition.
The four were travelling from South Africa.
Hardap police deputy commissioner John Mwatongwe yesterday said the family members are currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Roman Catholic Hospital and Mediclinic in Windhoek.
“The husband and wife are currently in ICU at Roman Catholic, and their son is at Mediclinic, also in ICU,” he said.
Gordon was airlifted from Mariental State Hospital to Lady Pohamba Private Hospital by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund.
He is currently in a stable conditon.
BBC reporter John Simpson yesterday told The Namibian Low and Formby are prominent figures in the UK.
Formby’s practice deals with personal injury and clinical negligence, he said.
Low is an anthropologist, and serves as museum director of the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre 70 km north of Cape Town in South Africa.
He has also helped develop the exhibiting San heritage range at the centre.
“Emily is a prominent lawyer here in her own right, and Chris runs an non-profit organisation San heritage centre in South Africa,” Simpson said.
According to Essex Chambers, Formby has served as the first chairperson of the Personal Injury Bar Association, increasing diversity among practitioners and challenging the reduction of the gender pay gap.
“Emily is renowned for her extensive personal injury and clinical negligence practice and is involved with the most complex cases of the highest value.
“Her experience in clinical negligence and personal injury cases means she is aware of the toll practice can take on the legal teams involved, so she intends particularly to focus on collective well-being and support.”
According to a police report, the accident occurred between the T-junction at Gibeon and Mariental.
It is alleged the accident took place after Formby attempted to overtake a truck, resulting in the vehicle colliding head-on with an oncoming car.
“The resultant collision caused serious damage to both vehicles, as well as a degree of injury to occupants, ranging from slight to critical injuries,” the police say.
The other vehicle was occupied by seven Namibian nationals who also sustained various injuries and were transported to Mariental State Hospital.
The driver of the truck that was allegedly overtaken did not stop and continued driving, the police say.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
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