Runaway driver kills 5, injures 3 in fatal accident at Tenaru bridge

Five people have died in a fatal accident at Tenaru Bridge last night and three people sustained injuries.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Edwin Sevoa said the fatal accident involved a land cruiser traveling easterly direction towards the Tenaru Bridge and ran through a group of people who was doing a fundraising in front of the old Tenaru Bridge.

Sevoa said the land cruiser was chased by police vehicle for careless driving from Burns Creek area. He adds on their way up to Tenaru Bridge, the driver of the land cruiser saw an incoming vehicle on the bridge and another vehicle parked at the western end of the bridge—so he decided to drive through the old Tenaru Bridge, which had not been used since the opening of the new Tenaru Bridge years ago. There were people at the old Tenaru bridge attending a fundraising when he drove thorugh.

Sevoa said the escapee driver drove his vehicle straight towards the crowd, hit several the people and later stopped. It was during that time that he killed the five and injured the other three. Though he escaped after the fatal accident the driver was later arrested with his associate.

Savoa also stated that unknown person later burnt down the land cruiser into ashes.

A traffic case was established and investigation is currently on going.

“I call on parties involved in this sad incident to refrain from taking the law in to their hands and to allow police to deal with the matter so that those responsible could face justice,” he said.

“Our condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased for the loss of their loved ones,” said PPC Sevoa.