7 die on Namibian roads over Easter

ROAD accidents over the Easter weekend claimed seven lives.

Five people died in a head-on collision between a car and a minibus 18 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo at around 14h10 on Friday. All of the deceased were travelling in a Toyota Corolla.Four of the passengers in the Iveco Minibus were admitted to hospital at Otjiwarongo with serious injuries.Some were later transferred to Windhoek for treatment.The deceased have been identified as the driver of the Corolla, Isaack Shihweka (age not known); Mbandeka Josephat (34); Kondjashile Hamutenya (24); Kamwi Shirah Nzila (27); and the driver’s sister, Aina Shihweka (28).A South African national died in a motor vehicle accident on Friday, 20 kilometres from Mariental on the Maltahoehe Road.Jan Lerey van der Merwe (49) was apparently sleeping in the front passenger seat at the time.It is believed he woke up when the driver of the Pajero they were travelling in swerved to avoid hitting a leguan.He apparently grabbed hold of the steering wheel causing the car to overturn.The four other occupants survived and were admitted to the Mariental Hospital with minor injuries.On Monday afternoon, John Silembu was killed in an accident on the Otavi-Tsumeb main road.Five other people, including the driver, were seriously injured when their Toyota Venture overturned approximately 10km from Otavi.The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.All the casualties were transported to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital for treatment.All of the deceased were travelling in a Toyota Corolla.Four of the passengers in the Iveco Minibus were admitted to hospital at Otjiwarongo with serious injuries.Some were later transferred to Windhoek for treatment.The deceased have been identified as the driver of the Corolla, Isaack Shihweka (age not known); Mbandeka Josephat (34); Kondjashile Hamutenya (24); Kamwi Shirah Nzila (27); and the driver’s sister, Aina Shihweka (28).A South African national died in a motor vehicle accident on Friday, 20 kilometres from Mariental on the Maltahoehe Road.Jan Lerey van der Merwe (49) was apparently sleeping in the front passenger seat at the time.It is believed he woke up when the driver of the Pajero they were travelling in swerved to avoid hitting a leguan.He apparently grabbed hold of the steering wheel causing the car to overturn.The four other occupants survived and were admitted to the Mariental Hospital with minor injuries.On Monday afternoon, John Silembu was killed in an accident on the Otavi-Tsumeb main road.Five other people, including the driver, were seriously injured when their Toyota Venture overturned approximately 10km from Otavi.The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.All the casualties were transported to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital for treatment.