Five people died instantly on the Tsumeb-Otavi B1 road on Sunday afternoon in a collision which took place between a Volkswagen sedan and an Iveco passenger bus.

Namibian Police Force community affairs liaison officer for the Oshikoto Region, Inspector Ellen Nehale in an interview with Nampa on Monday said six occupants were in the sedan including the 36-year-old male driver.

“The five people that died in the sedan are a two-year-old girl, a three-year-old, a 35-year-old and two aged 36, while a 45-year-old woman who was with them survived the accident with serious injuries,” said Nehale.

A total of 21 occupants were in the Iveco including the 30-year-old male driver.

Ten people from the bus were injured and together with the survivor from the sedan bringing the total to 11 injured people in the accident, were all taken to the Tsumeb State Hospital that Sunday afternoon, she said.

Nahale explained that the police’s preliminary investigations indicate that the Iveco was coming from the direction of Otavi, and as it tried to overtake a vehicle, a head-on collision occurred with the sedan which was headed in the opposite direction.

The accident took place at about 16h13, approximately 26 kilometres south of Tsumeb, she said.

“A culpable homicide docket has been opened at the Tsumeb Police Station against the driver of the Iveco who also sustained head injuries, and is still in a hospital at the town,” she said.

The deceased’s next of kin are yet to be informed and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency