HELL FIRE Inside how two truck drivers died in Trans Kalahari accident
Two truck drivers died last week while one was hospitalised following a horrific accident involving five trucks in Bere along the Trans Kalahari road. The accident, that has been attributed to the raging veldt fire that was engulfing both sides of the road caused the road to be closed for hours thereby blocking traffic from either side.
Three of the five trucks burnt to ashes. Two of the trucks that were involved in the accident were Namibia-registered, and another two Botswana-registered, one of which was carrying about 39 000 litres of diesel from Walvis Bay to Gaborone.
The third unfortunately burnt to ashes and its registration and the identity of the driver are yet to be determined.
Kang Police told The Midweek Sun that investigations into what really caused the accidents are ongoing, but confirmed that one of the deceased, Owen Mokwena, was working for Seema Logistics.
One of the truck drivers who survived told The Midweek Sun that he was driving behind two trucks when he suddenly saw a cloud of smoke emerge ahead and large flames of raging fire quickly spreading wide on both sides of the road.
“I was not far behind from my colleague - from Seema Logistics - but suddenly when we got closer to the blinding smoke and fire, I heard a loud bang of collision. My colleague who was driving in front of me rammed into a truck that was in front of him, forcing me to also hit his truck from behind.
“My colleague and I managed to escape from the trucks, but the two front trucks had already caught fire, it was only later that our trucks also burned.
“We suspect the first truck was trying to make a U-turn, as the fire in front was burning in high flames with huge
smoke. He was coming from the opposite direction because he was stuck across the road.” The first hit is believed to have happened when the approaching truck was clouded in the smoke, not aware there was a truck turning ahead.
One of the drivers driving the fifth truck to Namibia, Daniel Thomas from Blaaws Transport, Namibia, told The Midweek Sun that he managed to avoid the collision but his truck which was carrying coal, caught fire from the burning grass.
“I was driving but suddenly I saw the smoke, the wind was blowing towards me then I just heard a loud sound of vehicles bumping onto each other, then I tried to move to the other side but the fire was also coming.”
Gantsi Fireman 1, Letlogile Kenewendo said they managed to extinguish the fire from the three trucks but unfortunately they had already been burnt beyond recognition.
Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat Marketing and Communications Officer, Ankwetse Hunda said the TKCS is currently seized with the development of road incident management standards on transportation of dangerous goods.
“The standard will also allow the member states to forge strategic partnerships on the management of road incidents that involve dangerous goods. The TKCS is further seized with driver education as well as joint law enforcement operations where drivers are further engaged on road safety matters.”
She said the TKCS wishes to encourage drivers not to take unnecessary risks when driving.
“It is always important to be safe and take calculated decisions that will promote road safety.
“The TKCS hereby conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, governments and citizenry of the TKC, as well as to the companies involved.”