Gruesome long weekend on Namibian roads: At least 22 dead

The past long May weekend was one of the bloodiest weekends on the roads in the Namibian history. Across the entire country at least 22 people lost their lives during various accidents. The most horrific collision being the accident between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo on Sunday which claimed the lives of 15 people.

“A sad day for Namibia” and “shocking.” These were the remarks by the coastal West Coast Safety Initiative (WCSI) after the horrific head-on collision on Sunday at about 16:00 between an Iveco bus and a Nissan NP200 pick-up. The collision occurred about 110 kilometers from Okahandja on the B1 highway. Exact details about the cause have not yet been determined. Initial reports indicate that the bus was travelling from the north while the pick-up was travelling towards Otjiwarongo.
According to reports there were 24 occupants in the bus, including the driver. The bus burst into flames shortly after impact, resulting in ten people burning beyond recognition. The five occupants of the pick-up died on the spot. The police has called on relatives to come forward and assist with the identification of the deceased. The remaining 14 occupants of the bus sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to various hospitals.
An eyewitness reported to the WCSI: “I got there about 20 minutes after the accident. People were still trapped in the burning bus. All occupants of the Nissan NP200 perished on impact. It was a gruesome scene. Survivors are mainly children who were thrown out.”