Death stalks the roads; 13 killed in motor vehicle crashes in seven days – RSU
The carnage has continued unabated on the nation’s roads with 13 fatalities recorded over the one-week period from June 4 to 10.
This is according to the latest statistics released on Friday by the Road Safety Unit (RSU). They show that the total number of people killed as a result of motor vehicle crashes since the start of the year now stands at 215, with 86 per cent of victims being males and 14 per cent being females.
Among the latest fatalities which include one female are six drivers of private motor cars, three pedestrians, two motorcyclists and two passengers of private motor cars. They also include the three alleged gunmen who died after the Nissan Latio motor car they were travelling in crashed into a Toyota Hiace tour bus in Hanover on Sunday, June 5.
The driver of the motor car, who was reportedly trying to avoid a police checkpoint, hastily turned around the vehicle having been alerted to the police presence. In his bid to flee the area, the car crashed into the tour bus, reportedly while speeding and all three men on board were pronounced dead at hospital.
The police said they seized an illegal gun with several rounds of ammunition from the car. The occupants of the bus were also taken to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the RSU is reporting that the total of 215 fatalities recorded since January 1 resulted from 190 fatal crashes.
It said fatal crashes have decreased by one per cent while fatalities increased by one per cent when compared with the similar period in 2021. Overall, three more fatalities were recorded this year when compared to the 212 on record for the corresponding period in 2021.
The statistics also show that 44 pedestrians have been killed so far this year; this is five more than the 39 recorded for the similar period last year.
On the bright side, 17 fewer motorcyclists have been killed this year when compared to last year. Up to June 10 some 60 motorcyclists had perished in traffic crashes compared to 77 at the same time in 2021.
Eight more drivers of private motor cars have been killed this year when compared to last year; 52 have died compared to 44 in 2021.
