Mother of seven killed

A mother of seven children from Angabanga village in Central Province lost her life while trying to talk to
the driver of a PMV Dyna who initially hit her son at Angabanga along the Hiritano Highway in Central
Province.

Central Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joseph Salle confirmed reports provided by his
police officers from Bereina, Doa, and the Highway Patrol officers that the deceased, identified as
Victoria Mapai, was with her son on Wednesday evening at their village.

He said the mother and her child were at Angabanga Bridge when the driver, who was driving a PMV
Dyna, tried to overtake another vehicle, hit her child, and drove off.

PPC Salle said that when the mother saw her wounded child get into another vehicle, she tried to rushhim to the hospital.

He stated that when they approached Calvert Corner at the junction going towards Bereina, they saw
the vehicle that caused the accident. The mother stopped the car she was in and went to talk to the
driver.

“When the mother approached the driver of the route 600 PMV Dyna bearing the registration number
P. 5716K and wanted to speak to him, the driver accelerated, hit her, dragged her more than 70 meters,
and then decamped heading towards Kerema.

"When the villagers saw that, they alerted my police officers from Doa and Bereina, who quickly
responded to the scene. They collected the necessary information and then called for assistance. My
police officers were deployed to the crime scene to ensure no other incidents happened that night,” PPC
Salle said.

He also added that the police officers made communication with a Malalaua police officer from Gulf
who assisted in stopping the vehicle that night, but the driver escaped.

He said that the next day, Thursday, May 8, the driver was picked up by the Highway Patrol officers, and
the vehicle was taken to Bereina Police Station.

He mentioned that the driver was taken to Port Moresby and was detained at Sogeri Police Station to be
charged accordingly.

He stated that the situation at Angabanga was tense, but police units from Port Moresby, Bereina, Doa,
and Malalaua were deployed to the site to ensure that the highway was safe for the traveling public.

“I want to thank my officers for their tireless effort to make sure the driver was apprehended, the
vehicle was also impounded, and the roadblock was removed.

"My call now to the people living along the highway is to always stay away from the roadside to avoid
such incidents from happening. I have seen people sitting right next to the edge of the road without
considering vehicle accidents. Vehicles are machines that can experience mechanical faults that can
cause them to go off the road, leading to accidents.

"They are also driven by people who might be under the influence of liquor or are inexperienced in
driving, which can cause accidents. To avoid that, it is best to stay away from the roadside when you see
vehicles driving towards you,” PPC Salle said.

He said there had been awareness raised, but people are too ignorant. He mentioned that for the
accident that happened, killing the mother, police officers are dealing with the driver, and he assured
the deceased families that the driver will face the full force of the law.