A tragic car accident occurred last night, near March Girls Resort, Gaire Village, along the Magi Highway in Central Province. The incident happened between 10-11pm, claiming the lives of a young couple in their early 30s and leaving another injured.
According to sources on the ground, the young couple were hit by the vehicle while walking along the roadside, killing the woman upon impact. Sources say the man died while being rushed to Port Moresby General Hospital.
The vehicle allegedly responsible for the accident is a private vehicle.
Eyewitnesses allege that the driver and passengers of the private vehicle, who fled the scene, were potentially police personnel. A claim based on the recovery of a police jacket from the vehicle. The jacket is currently in the custody of village elders. Villagers are demanding the presence of authorities and leaders to address the situation.
In response, villagers have set up a roadblock at the accident site and are demanding compensation for the tragic event.
The Central Provincial Police Commander, Laimo Asi, has been contacted by InsidePNG for a statement regarding the incident.
Commander Asi is aware of the accident and confirmed that an investigation is already underway.
Commander Asi clarified that the vehicle involved in the accident is not a police vehicle. The discovery of the police jacket within the vehicle is seen as a significant point of controversy and is subject to further investigation.
Commander Asi called on the local community not to take the law into their own hands. He urged them to trust the police to conduct their investigation thoroughly, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the public and law enforcement.
“We understand the frustration and the pain,” said Asi. “However, it’s crucial that we trust the process and allow the investigation to take its course.”
In the meantime, the road block has been cleared after police addressed locals around 2:35pm.