RUNDU – Two people died while eight others were seriously injured on Wednesday afternoon in a fatal road accident involving a pickup truck which overturned near Ndongalinena village in the Kavango Region.

Acting Regional Crime Coordinator in the region Chrispin Mubebo told New Era the fatal road accident took place near Ndongalinena village, some 70 kilometers east of Rundu.

Police information suggests that the driver of the white Toyota pickup truck (bakkie), Samsam Shashovandu was driving on the gravel road. The vehicle overturned after the driver lost control.

All eight injured passengers were admitted to Nyangana District Hospital. The eight survivors were identified as Johannes Kamati, Fabianus Shipandu, Joseph Kalemane (27), Sipipa Namutenya (26), Immanuel Isak (55), Freddy Simasiku (41), Shilenga Simasiku (30) and Samsam Shashovantu.

The two deceased female passengers have not yet been identified. Mubebo however said that the police found two hospital cards on the scene, one belonging to Christine Malilo and the other to Christophine Mbamba.

“At this stage we cannot confirm whether the cards belong to the deceased or not,” he said. A case of culpable homicide has been opened and an investigation has been launched.