Seven killed in Madang truck crash

A truck carrying several passengers has crashed at Ono village in Madang Province, killing at least seven people and seriously injuring 17 others.

The crash happened at about 7 pm on Monday as the Isuzu truck, registration MAJ 316, was travelling from Bogia to Mutzing in Markham after a church gathering.

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Robert Baim, confirmed the crash and said the exact number of passengers travelling in the truck was not known.

Baim said 17 injured passengers were taken to the hospital, with seven confirmed dead, bringing the known number of people involved to 24.

Other injured passengers who were not hospitalised continued their journey to Mutzing overnight.

Police said the truck was travelling downhill and was negotiating a curve when it ran off the road, knocked down roadside barriers, and travelled about 150 metres into the bush before landing head-on

Six people died at the at the accident site, and another died later in hospital.

Baim said the truck was registered and was in good condition.

He said police would investigate the circumstances of the crash, including whether the vehicle was overloaded and whether the driver had undergone the required driver's tests before receiving a licence.

The driver was also injured and admitted to hospital.

PPC Baim said police will interview the driver after he has fully recovered and is well enough to speak, mostly likely in the next two to three days.

He has also called on new drivers to undergo proper testing through traffic officers before being issued driver's licences.

“There are no shortcuts,” Superintendent Baim said.