Traffic accident claims one life

53-year-old Beatrice Afata on Wednesday became the nation’s 40th road death for this year. The woman reportedly died when a car and a DAF truck collided along the Martin Luther Kingweg. The woman was sitting in the front passenger seat. Bystanders told Times of Suriname that the woman had asked the driver, Diego M (29), for a ride to the city. The woman’s body was taken to the Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. The Public Relations Office of the Police Force Suriname, pointed out that the preliminary results of the investigation indicate that the car was riding from Paranam to Paramaribo along the Martin Luther Kingweg. “Diego M wanted to pass the car in front him that was going to turn left. Diego M ended up on the other side of the road when he tried to pass the car. But at that moment a truck came from the opposite direction. In order to prevent a collision the truck driver turned left towards the roadside but at that exact same moment Diego M turned right to also prevent a collision. Both vehicles then collided,” said the police.

Afata was stuck in the wrec- kage so firefighters had to free her. The woman reportedly died at the scene of the accident. Diego M who reportedly does not have a Surinamese driver’s license sustained a few scratches and was taken to the Emergency Room by ambulance. Reports indicate that he is currently in police custody at the hospital. The truck driver has a valid drivers’ license. There was also a passenger in the truck. The truck driver and his passenger did not sustain any injuries. Both vehicles are severely damaged.