A 49-year-old motorcyclist died in the early hours of Sunday morning after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming government ambulance on the Swakopmund-Henties Bay road.

According to the Namibian Police weekend serious crime and incident report, the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 this morning (9 August 2026), at Tsovarite Street on the Swakopmund-Henties Bay road in Swakopmund.

The deceased was identified as Jaco Paulus Van Staden, a 49-year-old Namibian male.

Police allege that Van Staden was riding a motorcycle when he lost control and collided with an oncoming GRN ambulance from Swakopmund State Hospital. Van Staden sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the ambulance was not injured.

Police reported that both drivers were legally licensed at the time of the incident. Van Staden’s next of kin have been informed.

Police are investigating the matter as a case of culpable homicide and reckless and/or negligent driving.

By Eileen van der Schyff