OTJIWARONGO: The B1 national road in the Otjozondjupa Region witnessed two separate accidents on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of five lives. The accidents occurred on different sections of the road and involved multiple vehicles, including a Toyota Legend 45 double cab, a Volkswagen polo hatchback, an Iveco truck, and a Ford Ranger.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the first accident, involving a head-on collision between a Toyota Legend 45 double cab and a Volkswagen polo hatchback, occurred 84 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo, towards Okahandja. The accident happened as the Toyota was attempting to overtake a truck. The collision resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including the drivers of both the Polo and the Toyota, the latter being a 70-year-old South African national.

The second fatal incident took place at approximately 01h20, involving a side-collision between an Iveco truck and a Ford Ranger. The collision led to the Ford Ranger overturning. A 14-year-old boy, identified as Isack Ndjamba, was a casualty in this accident, succumbing to his injuries at the scene.

The accidents also resulted in various injuries to the occupants of the vehicles. In the first accident, two children in the Polo and a 34-year-old in the Toyota pickup sustained injuries and were treated at a hospital in Okahandja. In the second accident, six individuals, including the 39-year-old truck driver and his 21-year-old passenger, as well as the 45-year-old Ford Ranger driver and three passengers aged 10, 23, and 43, sustained injuries ranging from slight to serious. They received medical attention at the Otjiwarongo State Hospital.

The exact location of the second accident was reported to be approximately six kilometres south of Otavi. NamPol has stated that investigations into both accidents are ongoing to determine the precise causes and circumstances.