Rising number of fatal after-curfew accidents a concern, says dept
The Transport and Community Safety MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya alludes the rising number of fatal crashes happening during curfew hours to the disregard of lockdown regulations by owners of liquor outlets.
LIMPOPO – The MEC for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya is concerned about the rising number after fatal car crashes during curfew hours in the Mopani district. This follows two fatal crashes bring reported in the space of a week.
The latest crash occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 20 at Maake area next to Callies clinic after a van, transporting 22 people, had a tyre burst, lost control and overturned. According to a statement issued by the department, A 23-year-old woman was certified dead on the scene, while four other people were critically injured. “A further 14 occupants sustained serious injuries and three escaped with minor injuries. The injured were rushed to Dr. C N Phatudi hospital,” said the departmental media liaison officer, Mike Maringa.
He added that last weekend, five people were killed and 16 seriously injured when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned. ‘It is alleged they group were travelling from a liquor store when the incident occurred.”
Lerule-Ramakhanya has also called on the owners of liqour outlets to obey lockdown rules and to trade during the prescribed hours saying that the disregard of lockdown regulations has the potential of hiking the numbers of Covid-19 cases and fatal crashes on the roads. “
I am very worried that liquor businesses are gambling with the lives of our people. They operate outside the set hours and have a potential of perpetuating the spread of the virus at the time when we are fighting very hard to push back the numbers. Our hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients, and we cannot exacerbate the dire situation with accidents that can be avoided,” she concluded.
